Saints pack in good Nick for easy win

NORTHAMPTON nudged back towards the Premiership play-offs thanks to a bonus-point win against London Irish.

Former Saracen Nick Isiekwe was the star man as Saints’ pack did the damage. After a turgid first half they scored two penalty tries and one each for Tom Collins and Ahsee Tuala, as Irish merely took a penalty.

Northampton’s Chris Boyd said: ‘Every single point you can scrape together is vital in this block of games. I think there are eight genuine contenders for the play-offs.

‘Nick is a fast learner. It was a really good start for him in a competitive area for us.’

Nestled between Police Interceptors and Caught On Camera, this game was a break from highoctane drama on Channel 5. One of four picked matches for free-to-air television, the first half was hardly an advert for the league and a crowd may not have rescued it. At half-time it was just 3-3.

There were 15 other penalties given and the match really dragged. Finally, after 53 minutes a try improved things enormously. Good hands from Saints found Collins out wide and the winger chipped and chased to score in the corner.

It sparked Saints into life and they have scored again but Lewis Ludlam’s foot was in touch.

Nevertheless, Northampton took a second. Mikey Haywood dropped one over the line after a rolling maul, but in denying the try the TMO decided Exiles prop Sekope Kepu had brought down the maul, so a penalty try was given instead and the Australian was sin-binned.

Substitute Will Goodrick-Clarke was the next to go after a fourth scrum penalty on the Irish line, and Saints had a second penalty try following a fifth infringement in a row from the hosts.

Northampton’s bonus-point try came in spectacular style with Samoan Tuala charging down the right with time out and leaping acrobatically to finish with one hand.

London Irish boss Declan Kidney said: ‘We’re better than we’re showing ourselves with that scoreline.’