Northampton come out fighting to knock old rivals off course
QUITE a week for the Northampton historians. Seven days after their worst ever home defeat, the Saints ripped back at Leicester with their first victory at Welford Road for 11 years.
They knocked the Tigers out of the top four with two games left to play, leaving Matt O’Connor’s side to do it the hard way if they are to maintain their proud playoff record.
Bragging rights went south in the Midlands derby.
Leicester had enough opportunities to win this game twice over but their lineout creaked, their breakdown was battered and their passes fell.
When Northampton lost their captain after just 12 seconds, it seemed destined to be another day to forget for the strugglers.
Rob Horne was knocked out tackling Sione Kalamafoni and was taken to hospital in a pitchside ambulance.
But his players rallied to secure a memorable victory in an otherwise forgetful season.
Seven of Northampton’s matchday squad will leave at the end of the season – with a further seven players set to follow – and there was an air of defiance.
In the coaching box, Alan Dickens and Dorian West cried and cursed their way through to the final whistle as their soon-tobe-unemployed No 10 Stephen Myler kicked 12 points.
‘Attitudes were questioned last week and it’s tough for players when you are leaving and not sure where you are going for your next job,’ said Dickens. ‘We had players who played today who haven’t got a contract, so I thought it just shows what you can do when you pull together.’
Horne’s injury prompted a 10minute delay, before Ben Foden scored the first try down the left.
Tyro prop Ellis Genge carried Leicester through the first half and his offload set up Telusa Veainu to score under the posts.
Then Matt Toomua edged the hosts ahead after Graham Kitchener’s charge-down, but their game unravelled as they gave away possession.
Cobus Reinach, however, ensured that Saints led at halftime, meeting an inside pass from Teimana Harrison to score.
Incoming coach Chris Boyd will take heart from Northampton’s second-half spirit with Ahsee Tuala turning George Ford inside out to score before rookie prop Ehren Painter gave them a pickup from the bench.
A Leicester comeback did not arrive as Jonah Holmes’ late score was ruled out after George Worth blocked Piers Francis.
‘The disallowed try was brutal,’ said a one-eyed O’Connor.
The reality is, Leicester only had themselves to blame. BILLY Burns set his sights on double glory for Gloucester after they clinched a bonuspoint win over Quins and boosted their play-off chances.
The fly half is confident his side can gatecrash the top four having moved back into sixth place — three points behind Newcastle who they face in a Challenge Cup semi-final on Friday. Boss’s son Ruan Ackermann crashed over at the end for the crucial fourth try and kept the hosts in with a shout for the end-of-season Premiership showdown.
Burns insisted: ‘This keeps us right there in the hunt. We are growing and getting stronger and are ready to give it everything. We have great belief in this side. Our attacking game has grown massively and we are now more clinical.
‘We will enjoy this win and then focus on Newcastle in Europe. We owe them one.’
Boss Johan Ackermann said: ‘It is still in our hands and we can only keep winning and see where we are at the end.’ WASPS director of rugby Dai Young hopes to have secured an Aviva Premiership play-off place before what could be a winner-takes-all match against Newcastle.
Wasps went third in the table, a place above Newcastle, with this bonus point win over Worcester, with two tries from wing Christian Wade and one each by lock Joe Launchbury and replacement Josh Bassett.
Young said: ‘We have to win against Northampton and then I expect us to go to Newcastle (on May 5) with still all to play for. It would be nice for me if we don’t (have to get points at Newcastle) but these are two cup finals.’
Worcester can secure their Premiership status by beating Harlequins on April 28.