Pre-season action - starts
ENGLAND’S victorious captain Dylan Hartley was back on domestic duty in this pre-season work-out at Franklin’s Gardens.
Hartley produced his usual performance of nonstop hustle-and-bustle which brought him one of four first-half tries which put the Saints out of sight.
Pirates fought back in the second half and gained plenty of credit for outscoring their Premiership hosts by two tries to one after halftime.
Hartley disappeared just before the hour mark when Northampton had lost their initial impetus which had brought a 35-7 lead eight minutes into the second half.
Northampton’s captain was joined in a strong looking line up which included first-choice fly half Stephen Myler, who converted all five tries, and the game’s most impressive player Harry Mallinder.
The 21-year-old will be a player under the spotlight this season as he tries to establish himself fully at centre before looking for England honours.
He certainly produced an excellent first half helping to put prop Alex Waller over for the first try before scoring the fourth himself following scores by Hartley and Myler.
Northampton were in complete control helped by Pirates having substitute second row Brett Beukeboom sin binned. He was given a yellow card for obstructing full-back Ahsee Tuala in a home attack which was stopped under the posts.
But Northampton did not take the easy penalty kick and continued to press the Pirates line in a spell which brought three tries in 11 minutes.
Once Howard Packman had sprinted in for Northampton’s fifth try in the 48th, the match slowed which helped the Pirates to gain possession.
They had already demonstrated their ability to score off scrums when No 8 Tom Duncan forced his way over just before half-time.
And good approach play brought two further tries in the second half through substitute wing Jack Arnott and back-rower Dan Lee. His pace off the back of a scrum surprising the Northampton defence.
The tries gave Pirates a feel good factor in their last season pre-season game before tackling Bedford in the opening Championship match on Sept 3.
Gavin Cattle, in joint charge alongside Alan Paver, was delighted at his team’s tenacity after a difficult summer including the departure of director of rugby Ian Davies because of cost cutting.
Cattle told The Rugby Paper:“I keep getting asked whether I think we are going to struggle this season, but the squad want to work hard and we have a terrific spirit in the camp.
“They fought very hard today and competed well against a very strong Northampton line up.”