Northampton Saints vs Dragons

Saints are attacking again and Burrell charges forwards to get Saints close.

Dragons maul forwards from the lineout and are close...

Dragons push form the lineout and are up to the five metre line now. They look to come wide but fumble the ball and are pushed back. They keep coming and Saints are penalised at the breakdown. Lewis sends it to the corner again.

Dragons have an advantage coming and eventually we come back for it. Lewis sends it to the corner. 

Davies boxes and Williams collects. He runs back at Saints but is halted at the halfway line. Dragons play on.

Dragons come forwards but Saints hold firm and force the chip through. Mitchell is there and Saints play on.

Pressure from Saints at the lineout but the referee deems the home side to have knocked on. Scrum Dragons.

Penalty Dragons at the scrum this time and Lewis sends it to touch. Lineout Dragons.

Burrell barges up the middle and Saints go wide again. Naiyaravoro finds Mitchell inside him and Saints are up to the Dragons' 22 now. But the ball just goes forwards in contact. Scrum Dragons.

Penalty Saints at the scrum and Biggar sends it to touch. Lineout Saints on halfway.

Knock on from Dragons at the lineout this time and Saints will have the scrum.

Overthrow at the lineout from Dragons and Biggar clears. Lineout Dragons outside Saints' 22 this time.

Penalty Dragons at the breakdown and Lewis sends the kick into the corner.

Davies and Strachan enter play as we get the scrum set, replacing Hutchinson and Kellaway respectively.

Dragons chip through and though Kellaway gets a hand to it, he's deemed to have knocked on. Scrum Dragons.

Naiyaravoro makes some yards up the left before Eadie follows him. But Saints knock the ball on there and Dragons play on.

And Ribbans is straight up for the lineout. But scrappy handling from Saints after pushes them back. Hutchinson gets things back up near halfway and Saints keep pushing once they get there.

Ribbans replaces Ratuniyarawa as we set the lineout.

Dragons look to maul from the lineout and make some ground before Saints bring it to a halt. Davies clears and Naiyaravoro is there. Biggar chips through and Dragons return. Lineout Saints inside Dragons' half.

Penalty Dragons at the lineout as Saints are penalised for being offside. Lewis sends it into touch.

A couple of re-sets and eventually we get the ball away. Mitchell picks up and Biggar sends the ball through into space. It bounces into touch and Dragons have the lineout back in their own 22.

Fish is replaced by Marshall as we set the scrum.

No conversion from the touchline for Biggar but Lewis' restart goes straight out and Saints will have a scrum on halfway.

Hutchinson breaks to get Saints back into the Dragons' 22 and the ball is coming wide to where Naiayarvoro is in space...

Scrappy handling from Saints pushes them back but they regroup and get back on the front foot. Sleightholme charges forwards down the right before Eadie charges through the middle.

Biggar clears the restart before receiving it back and he runs it to the line. Saints push up to halfway as Kellaway barrels over and Saints are on the attack once more.

Eadie replaces Harrison as we restart.

... sends the conversion just wide though.

Short from Dragons at the restart but Saints get there first. The ball is coming wide to Harrison. He breaks through and Mitchell is in support...

A change in the props for Saints, with Waller and Franks replaced by Davis and Painter.

... sends the conversion just wide though.

Saints are pushing hard now and have made it up to the five metre with an advantage coming.

Saints are attacking again as they earn the turnover and they work hard to get up to the Dragons' 22 once again. 

Dragons make it up to Saints 22 and are still pushing.

Naiyaravoro plucks the ball out of the air and races forwards but his offload finds Dragons hands. They play on.

Dragons knock on the high ball and Saints clear. Dragons return the ball but Biggar is there. He's taken quickly though and the back goes forwards. Scrum Dragons.

Gibson is up for the lineout and Saints are mauling forwards. Dragons slow them though and the ball comes out. Franks barges forwards in the midfield and Saints are up to the five metre.

Burrell finds Naiyaravoro in the midfield and Saints have an advantage coming too. We come back for it eventually and Biggar sends it into the corner.

Kellaway gets up for the restart and Saints find themselves pushing inside Dragons' half.

Naiyaravoro returns from the sin bin as we restart.

Saints whip the ball wide but as it comes back inside to Ratuniyarawa, he knocks the ball on. Dragons play on.

Harrison collects the restart and Mitchell boxes clear. Biggar collects the high ball and Saints are attacking again.

Lewis gets us back on here at Franklin's Gardens!

Wood is up for the lineout and Saints look to maul. They're moving and they're within inches...

We come back for the penalty and Harrison tries to take it quickly. He's over the whitewash but the referee bring the game back. Biggar sends the penalty into touch.

Scrappy at the lineout but Saints save it. They're pushing again and have another advantage coming should they need it.

The maul breaks up and Saints have the advantage coming. Biggar sends the cross field kick over to Kellaway but he can't quite get there. We come back for the penalty. Biggar sends it into the corner.

Gibson is up for the lineout and Saints maul forwards. 

Penalty Saints at the breakdown and Biggar sends the ball into touch for a lineout inside Dragons' 22. 

Free kick Saints at the scrum and Harrison takes it quickly. Saints are up to the halfway line now and pushing hard.

Franks returns to the field as we set the scrum, with Painter taking his leave.

Dragons maul again but make little ground and are forced to use the ball. Burrell intercepts though and is away. He's taken down a little high and knocks the ball on. Scrum Dragons.

Dragons come wide again but the passing is scrappy and the ball finds touch.

Dragons have an advantage coming for a high tackle but they kick the ball away and Sleightholme returns. Dragons play on this time and make their way into Saints' half again.

Dragons whip the ball wide and Saints are forced to scramble over as they come back the other way. They keep looking for a gap but Saints hold them out for now.

Penalty Dragons at the scrum and Lewis sends the ball into touch for a lineout.

Mitchell boxes though Lewis is there, Biggar takes him down. Sleightholme rips the ball in a tackle and Saints are back on the attack. The ball comes wide to Naiyarvoro but he just can't quite get a hand to it and we'll have a scrum.

Dragons look to maul from the lineout and gain a few yards before Knoyle boxes clear. Saints are there and they push forwards again.

Franks leaves the field, with Painter replacing him as a blood replacement as Dragons send the penalty into touch.

A bit of aerial tennis ensues before Kellaway takes the space. He finds Sleightholme out wide. Saints are up to the 22 but concede a penalty at the breakdown. 

But Saints keep strong in defence and eventually work the turnover. Biggar breaks through the middle and Saints are up tot he Dragons' 22 once again.

Dragons get the ball away quickly but Hutchinson slows their progress with a big hit. Saints push Dragons back but the away side whip the ball wide and make it over the halfway line on the second time of asking.

But the ball comes forwards in contact and Dragons will have the scrum around halfway. 

Saints whip the ball wide and Kellaway barges forwards out wide. The home side come back the other way before Naiyaravoro has a go. Saints are back in Dragons' half now and pushing still.

Dragons come forwards but Saints push them into touch and have the lineout.

Good pressure from Saints at the lineout and Dragons clear. Sleightholme is there and Kellaway clears but his kick is charged down. Dragons play on.

A few re-sets later and we finally get the scrum way. Mitchell picks up from the base and the ball comes wide. Kellaway is charging forwards and Wood does the same. Mitchell spots some space in behind and chips through. Lineout Dragons in their own 22. 

But good defence from Saints pushes them back and eventually the pressure forces an error from Dragons, with Griffiths knocking on. Scrum Saints.

Dragons get the ball away from the lineout this time and work their way into Saints' 22. 

Scrum Saints then and the home side play from deep. They make it out of their 22 again but concede at the breakdown and Lewis will send the ball into the corner again.

Hibbard leaves for a HIA and Lawrence enters play.

Dragons look to maul again but they slow. The ball comes out and in scrappy play sees Waller pick the loose ball up and break free. But the play stops again as Hibbard is down. Saints will restart with the scrum though.

Eventually we come back for the penalty and Lewis sends it into the corner once more.

Dragons look to maul again but Saints hold firm. The away side get the ball out and come wide, they have another advantage coming if they need it.

Dragons have an advantage coming as they look to maul forwards. They play the phases before we come back for it. Lewis sends it to the corner again.

Kellaway gets up for the high ball on the restart and Saints barge their way out of their own 22 once again. Mitchell boxes and Lewis is there. He chips over the top to himself and though his offload finds Hutchinson, Dragons have the penalty as Saints are penalised for being offside. Lewis sends it to the corner.

Gibson is up for the lineout and Harrison barrels forwards. Saints are in the Dragons' 22 again. Mitchell finds Gibson and a charge from the forwards gets Saints up to the five metre again.

Naiyaravoro comes forwards and nearly barges into the referee. He pulls up but is isolated and Dragons turn the ball over. They clear and Saints will have the lineout again.

Scrappy at the lineout but Wood just can't get to the ball and Dragons clear. Lineout Saints just outside the Dragons' 22. 

Saints move the ball quickly and Hutchinson barges through the middle. Gibson breaks through to get Saints into Dragons' 22 and the home side push. Sleightholme is close but he's pushed into touch. Lineout Dragons.

Saints get over the ball at the breakdown and the penalty comes their way. Biggar sends the ball into touch and Saints have the lineout just outside the Dragons' 22. 

We restart with a scrum to Dragons and after a few re-sets the away side are awarded the free kick. Griffiths takes it quickly and Dragons play on.

Furbank - who is helped from the field but is back to his feet - is replaced by Kellaway as we restart.

Dragons play on and Dixon breaks but Furbank takes him down. Saints regroup in defence but with the home fullback still down after the large hit, we pause the game here.

Furbank gets up for the restart and Saints play from their own 22. The ball comes back to Biggar who clears but Lewis is there to take the high ball for Dragons. 

... sends the touchline conversion just wide though.

With advantage coming Saints play on. They're up to the five metre now.

Amos takes the kick-off and Dragons look to come forwards but Saints turnover at the breakdown and are pushing inside Dragons' 22 already.