Northampton Saints won this game in opening the three minutes with a try from wing Ben Cohen to end the club's recent victory and try drought. Head coach Alan Solomons had highlighted the affect of the wet conditions to his team before they ran out at Hughenden today and stressed the aim to score a try in the opening 10 to 15 minutes before the ground became too cut up.

And Cohen was the man to deliver that try in just the third minute when late replacement prop Chris Budgen fed the ball to centre Marc Stcherbina to release the England wing. Budgen, the Wanderers' top try-scorer this season, was called off the bench after Tom Smith failed to shake off a bruised knee he suffered in last weekend's game against Sale Sharks. Shane Drahm, back in his favoured position of fly-half, stepped upto kick the conversion and Saints were 0-7 in the lead.

Saints followed Cohen's effort with a disallowed try before flanker Darren Fox was sent to the sin-bin. Glasgow made the most of Fox's absence by putting their first points on the board through the boot of fly-half Dan Parks. His penalty brought the scoreline to 3-7 with 16 minutes gone.

With the 15-minute window of good pitch out the way, it would seem running rugby was out the door and this was now the time for the forwards to grind out some possession and territory. As with many of Saints' recent games, territory and possession were not a problem but the try-line seemed to be a boggy wall for both sides. Parks slotted over his second penalty before the break, after Drahm had bounced one off the woodwork, and the scoreboard read 6-7 at half-time.

The visitors were forced to change their shirts at half-time after their ecru away shirts had changed to shade of muddy brown, thanks to the conditions. And it was the players in black, green and gold that piled on the early pressure with a grubber kick by Mark Robinson being kicked ahead by Cohen and chased on by John Rudd for the try, only for French referee Eric Darriere to call them back for what he thought was a knock on from Cohen. At least Drahm was able to push Saints further ahead with a penalty in the 52nd minute.

Drahm got a second penalty in the 56th minute after Glasgow flanker Donnie MacFadyen was also sent to the sin-bin for foul play. Drahm's kick took Saints to a try and a conversion lead - a lead they would need to hang onto to come away with that crucial win. Parks dented that lead with his third penalty in the 73rd minute but Saints were in a defensive mood and were not going to let their first win in six weeks get away. All fifteen players put their bodies in the line to prevent Glasgow from scoring and when the final whistle blew, there were some very relieved faces in the Saints squad. As of tonight, Saints are top of the table in pool three.

Attendance:
2,772