Saints see off Connacht to set up shootout with Stade
COURTNEY Lawes produced a trademark barnstorming display before vowing to put thoughts of self-preservation ahead of the Lions tour to one side as Northampton booked a Champions Cup shoot-out with Stade Francais on Friday night.
Lawes admitted cramping badly towards the end of a thunderous contest in which Connacht took Saints to the wire before succumbing to tries from Harry Mallinder and Nic Groom, embellished by 11 points from the boot of stand-in No.10 Mallinder.
However, imposing lock Lawes will not be easing up ahead of a dream trip to New Zealand, insisting: “You’ve just got to crack on. If you worry about things like that you’re more likely to get injured so you just throw yourself in and hope for the best.
“I was cramping up a bit at the end, which is unlike me, but my body’s in better shape than ever and I feel in pretty good form. I’m carrying well, getting a lot of ball in hand, which is good for me, and I’m trying to keep up my defensive work as well.”
On facing Stade, Lawes added: “It wasn’t our best performance today but we’ll be ready. They’ve got a big pack like all French teams and they played really well against Gloucester and Cardiff, but if we stop them there we’ll have a very good chance.”
Northampton made the perfect start when Nafi Tuitavaki broke clear, Lawes carried the ball up and Ben Foden and Ahsee Tuala combined to send in Mallinder.
Mallinder converted but the lead was short-lived as Saints were caught napping from the restart, allowing Craig Ronaldson to grubber for Niyi Adeolokun to score.
Mallinder nailed a penalty to restore Northampton’s lead but Connacht, looking more dangerous with ball in hand, continued to press with Ronaldson leading the charge.
Connacht pressure mounted but just as Saints looked set to crack, Foden picked off Finlay Bealham’s misdirected pass. The winger made good ground before Connacht scrambled back at the cost of a penalty, which was converted by Mallinder.
Ronaldson replied with a three-pointer for Connacht but Saints, with their forwards taking charge, dominated thereon to lead 13-10 at the break.
Northampton pilfered a lineout from the restart but were unable to capitalise. And another chance went begging when Tuala found himself on the end of a sweeping backs move, only for his pass to find touch instead of the onrushing George North.
Connacht built pressure of their own but butchered a lineout deep inside Northampton’s 22, enabling Mallinder to clear. And Saints produced their best passage of play when Groom broke before sending North rampaging down the left.
Connacht saw off the danger but Northampton attacked again, with Groom, Lawes, Christian Day and Kieran Brookes making hard yards, and pressure finally told when Mallinder and Tuala fashioned an opening for the impressive Groom to plunge over.
Again the visitors struck back quickly as hooker David Heffernan finished a short-range lineout drive. However, Northampton responded well and brilliant work at the breakdown by Lee Dickson earned a penalty that was smashed over by Mallinder.
Northampton led by six points but Connacht were not done and Jamie Gibson’s sin-binning created a last gasp lineout chance. But Saints resisted the drive and, fittingly. Lawes’ crunching tackle on Jack Carty produced the turnover that ended the match.
Bristol-bound Connacht boss Pat Lam said: “Not making the Champions Cup again hurts but it’s four years I’ll look back on with a lot of pride. Win or lose we’ve always fought and I’m proud of the effort my boys put in against a good Saints team.”