Northampton Saints vs Newcastle Falcons

Another advantage comes for Falcons and they get the ball close. We're with the TMO to see if they've grounded the ball on the post...

Falcons go quickly again and are still so close.

Another penalty for Falcons as Saints are deemed offside. Falcons go quickly again.

Saints are defending for their lives here...

Penalty Falcons at the scrum and Takulua goes quickly. They're inches away again.

Time is up here and Falcons get over the line but are held up. Scrum Falcons on the five metre then.

Penalty Falcons as Saints don't release and they go quickly. 

Davidson storms forwards up the left wing for Falcons and they're within inches now.

Falcons whip it left and right looking for space but Saints hold firm for now.

Free kick Falcons as Saints are deemed to have closed the gap and they take it quickly.

But impressive defence from Saints earns them the penalty as Reinach gets over the ball. Biggar sends it to touch.

Falcons work their way back into Saints' 22 and keep pushing. 

Gibson is up for this one again and this time Saints deal with it better. Reinach clears but the ball goes into touch and Falcons have the lineout again.

Gibson disrupts the lineout but scrappy handling from Saints sees Falcons with a lineout in the home 22.

Penalty Falcons at the ruck as Saints are deemed to have put in a high tackle. Flood sends it to touch.

Marshall replaces Hartley as the Saints skipper closes his 250th appearances for the side.

Penalty Falcons at the scrum and Flood sends it to touch. Lineout Falcons then. 

Scrappy from Newcastle under the restart and they're pushed back into their own 22. Takulua looks to get the ball out but Saints are over it. They're deemed to have knocked on though and Falcons will have the scrum. 

Hammersley collects and races forwards. It looks like Gibson is over it but Falcons are awarded the penalty. Connon - who replaces Hammersley - points to the posts.

No try says the TMO. A brilliant covering tackle from Tuala that. 22 drop Saints then. 

Solid from Saints at the scrum and Falcons are forced to use it. They come wide but Biggar's tap tackle on Hammersley slows things. Goneva is away down the wing just after though and thinks he's over. We're with the TMO...

Sleightholme replaces Kellaway as we get the scrum set.

They keep pushing but knock on in contact and Falcons have the scrum. 

Saints charge forwards off the lineout and make their way up to Falcons' 22 quickly. 

Ratuniyarawa replaces Ribbans as we set the lineout.

Quick from Falcons at the lineout this time and the ball comes back to Flood to clear. Lineout Saints.

Free kick Saints at the lineout as Falcons take to long to throw the ball in. Biggar sends the ball high and Hammersley is there. Flood clears but the ball flies down Biggar's throat and the fly-half comes forwards. Francis chips over and the ball finds touch well. Lineout Falcons in their own 22.

Saints do well to earn the turnover and Tuala is through the middle but he loses the ball forwards and Falcons play on. They chip through and Kellaway clears. Lineout Falcons.

Van Wyk replaces Waller as we set the lineout.

Falcons get the ball away quickly from the scrum and Takalua sends the ball back to Flood to clear. Reinach races forwards to charge it down but the ball reaches touch and Falcons will have the lineout.

Saints get close to the line but Falcons hold them up and earn the scrum. 

Gibson up for the lineout and Saints maul again. 

Ribbans up for the lineout again and Saints maul forwards. There's an advantage coming should they need it and eventually we do come back for it. Biggar sends the penalty into the corner.

Penalty Saints at the ruck as Falcons go off their feet and Biggar sends it to touch. Lineout Saints in Falcons' 22.

Falcons battle with Saints forwards before Hammersley sends it skyward. Tuala is there and he feeds Naiyaravoro. Saints push again.

Ribbans is up for the lineout and Saints maul forwards. Reinach whips it out and boxes but Falcons get there and play on.

Lockwood makes way as we set the lineout, with Brocklebank entering play. 

Ribbans gets over the ball though and Saints have the penalty as Lockwood enters the ruck from the side. Biggar sends it to touch.

Scrappy at the lineout but Falcons hold onto it. Lawes looks to be over the ball but we play on. Falcons are up to Saints' 22 now and pushing.

Mulipola replaces D Wilson as we set the lineout.

Flood sends the penalty into touch for a lineout.

But Saints lose the ball forwards in contact and Falcons play on. They make their way out of their own 22 before Takulua clears. Tuala is there and he finds Kellaway. He's somewhat isolated though and Falcons earn the penalty.

Overthrow at the lineout from Saints and Falcons clear but they're charges down. Saints have the ball and are pushing again.

We set and re-set before Saints earn a penalty there. Biggar sends it into the corner.

Free kick Saints at the lineout and Saints choose the scrum. 

Biggar clears the restart well and Falcons have the lineout but back in their own half.

Cooper leaves the field for a HIA and is replaced by McGuigan as we restart. 

Stuart is then replaced by Takulua as we set the lineout.

Saints defend hard and forces Stuart to box but his kick goes straight out and Saints will have the lineout inside Falcons' half. 

Ribbans is uff or the lineout and Saints maul forwards. Reinach boxes clear and Falcons comes forwards again. 

A good shove from Saints but Falcons just manage to keep possession. The away side whip it wide and gain some yards before Saints scramble back. Falcons keep pushing but their pass outride finds touch. Lineout Saints.

The away side clear and Reinach is there. Biggar sends it skyward for Dingwall this time and he feed Gibson well but the back row's offload is deemed forwards. Scrum Falcons. 

Lawes steals the lineout and Saints push on. Reinach sends it skyward for Biggar to chase but Falcons just get there first.

Harrison feeds Reinach off the scrum and after a few phases the scrum-half clears. Lineout Falcons.

Saints look to come wide but the slippy ball just slips through Tuala's hands. Falcons nearly get there but they knock on. Scrum Saints. 

Falcons knock on in the breakdown and Saints will have the scrum. 

They look to chip through but Saints charge it down and play on.

Reinach clears from the base of a ruck and Biggar chases hard. But Flacons just get there and play on.

Franks replaces Hill as we restart.

Just a point in it as we restart things here at the Gardens!

We come back for the penalty and Biggar sends it into touch again.

Gibson is up for the lineout and Saints maul forwards. There's an advantage coming if they need it. They keep pushing.

Scrum down the the last play of this half and Saints earn a penalty there. Biggar sends it to touch for a lineout inside Falcons' 22. 

Solid scrum from Saints and Falcons whip it out quickly. They look to come wide but their pass comes forwards and Saints will have the scrum.

Falcons look to maul the lineout but Ludlam rips the ball through the middle of it. Saints are pushing once again. Reinach boxes and Kellaway gets up for the ball. Saint play on but are deemed to have knocked on. Scrum Falcons.

Saints defend hard again to hold Falcons around halfway but are penalised for playing the ball before it's out. Flood sends the ball deep into touch for a lineout inside Saints' 22. 

Free kick Saints at the scrum and Biggar sends it to touch. Lineout Falcons near halfway. 

Good pressure from Saints but Falcons continue to push. Biggar and Gibson work hard to hold Hammersley up and Saints earn the put in at the scrum. 

Goneva wriggles free out wide but Tuala and Gibson get back. Saints rip the ball but Reinach is deemed to have knocked on. Scrum Falcons in Saints' 22. 

Falcons come forwards from the lineout and Flood feeds Sinoti inside him. But Saints' defence holds firm and pushes the away side back to halfway. 

Kellaway clears the restart and Falcons have the lineout outside Saints' 22. 

Good defence from Saints after the lineout pushes Falcons back into their own 22 and Stuart clears. Lineout Saints.

Flood sends the penalty into touch and Falcons have a lineout just outside their own 22. 

Saints work hard but Falcons are awarded the penalty for not releasing. 

Naiyaravoro is off down the left again and Saints are up to the five metre now. They keep pushing.

Flood clears the restart but it doesn't go out of play and Tuala is there. He comes forwards and Saints play on. 

Space out wide and Saints try to get the ball there but Kellaway is isolated. The home side do well to get there in support but they concede at the next breakdown and after referee Carley gives Falcons an extra few yards for Saints chat-back, Flood points to the posts.

Stuart clears again and Biggar is there for it. Kellaway comes forwards and tries to offload to Biggar but a Falcons hand gets to the ball first and knocks on. Scrum Saints.

Saints get the ball away quickly and Naiyaravoro comes charging forwards. Tuala is in support but his offload finds Falcons hands. They look to clear but Reinach charges it down and pushes the away side back. 

The wing finds Goneva but the other Falcons winger knocks on. Scrum Saints on halfway. 

Sinoti comes inside to carry the ball but Saints' defence swallows him up. The ball comes wide right but a huge hit from Naiyaravoro slows Falcons' progress. And Saints earn the turnover there play on. Tuala chips through and Sinoti comes forwards again. 

Flood sends the kick into touch and Falcons have a lineout back inside Saints' half.

Tuala and Kellaway team up down the right but the wing's offload into Reinach finds Falcons hands. They clear their lines through and Saints are back on the attack. Reinach drinks through but is isolated and Falcons earn the penalty. 

Lawes is up for the lineout and Saints begin to push again. 

Better from Saints at the lineout and they're attacking hard. Tuala breaks through the middle and makes his way up to the five metre before he's taken down. Falcons collect the loose ball though and clear their lines. Lineout Saints just outside Falcons 22. 

Falcons maul from the lineout before Stuart boxes. Naiyaravoro is there and he charges down the left wing but his offload comes forwards of Reinach. Falcons clear but the kick goes straight out. Lineout Saints inside Falcons half.

Flood chips over the top as Saints pressure Falcons well. Tuala is there and he clears well. Lineout Falcons back inside their own half.

Ribbans is up to disrupt the lineout but Falcons just keep hold of it. They come forwards but a big hit from Lawes slows things.

Scrappy from Saints at the lineout and Falcons get there. Flood hacks the ball downfield but Kellaway is there and the wing clears. Lineout Falcons on halfway.

Reinach boxes but his opposite man is there and Stuart marks it. He sends it into touch for a Saints lineout.

More pressure from Saints at the scrum but Falcons just hold on. Tuala collects their clearing kick and play on.

Saints mount some more good pressure, getting up to the 22 again but as Reinach chips over the top for Harrison, the number eight just loses the ball forwards. Scrum Falcons.

Good pressure from Saints at the scrum and Stuart clears quickly from the base. Lineout Saints just outside Falcons' 22. 

Saints get close but find themselves accidentally offside. Scrum Falcons.

They're up to the 22 now and pushing hard. Kellaway makes some yards before Harrison charges forwards out wide. They're close now...

Knock on from Falcons at the lineout and Saints play on.

Saints nearly cause havoc at the lineout but Falcons earn a penalty at the breakdown. Flood sends it to touch. 

Falcons send a grubber through but Biggar is there and the fly-half sends the ball deep into touch for a Falcons lineout inside their own 22. 

Dingwall gets up for the restart but Falcons just cling onto the ball. Their forwards take the ball into contact before Stuart clears. Tuala is there and he sends it skyward too. Hammersley takes is and Falcons play on.

Scrappy at the lineout but Saints are penalised for touching the man in the air. Flood points to the posts.

Sinoti takes the kick-off ad Falcons play from deep. Saints' defence is good though and eventually Stuart boxes. He's charged down and Kellaway collects but Saints are penalised for being offside. Flood sends the ball into touch for a Falcons lineout.

Lead out by the skipper Hartley on his 250th appearance for the Club, Biggar gets up going here at the Gardens and Saints v Falcons is on!