Generals step up to get Saints marching again
WORCESTER and Northampton went into this Sixways clash separated only by points difference, but it was the Saints who were streets ahead come the final whistle.
Chris Boyd’s men were comfortable winners, thanks mainly to half-backs Cobus Reinach and Dan Biggar, who ended the game with a 20-point haul.
Biggar, who was perfect from the tee, controlled the game and unleashed his outside backs with intent while, inside him, Reinach was all bark and snarl as he scored a crucial secondhalf try.
Luther Burrell added a late Northampton second as all Worcester could manage were two penalties from Duncan Weir.
The outstanding Reinach said: “It’s an important win. The boys are happy and we’ve been trying to attack well all season. But we still made mistakes and have to be more accurate.
“Dan shows his worth in every game and everyone put their hand up, it was a full 80-minute performance. There have been quite a few games where we could have put teams away early and we’re still trying to make that crucial pass stick.
“A good Christmas present for us would be to have a full house at home against Exeter on Friday. They’re one of the best teams in the league, but we’ll to try to put them to the sword.”
Worcester were awful before the break and their display was summed up by Weir putting the kick-off out on the full and missing two simple penalty efforts.
The Scotsman had previously been successful with his last 19 shots at goal. His profligacy was shown up by Biggar, who booted four penalties of his own to one from Weir as Northampton – deservedly – went to the break 12-3 ahead.
Referee Wayne Barnes had given Worcester little at the breakdown in the opening 40 as they struggled to get any quick ball for their backs.
The decision to leave Ben Te’o sat in the stands looked increasingly bizarre as the game went on given the Warriors lacked anyone to give them go forward.
Weir kicked an early second-half penalty, but Reinach changed the game with two key moments just before the hour.
First, with Worcester pushing for a try, he put in a vital tackle to stop Bryce Heem who looked certain to score. Then he came up with a try of his own. Francois Hougaard threw a telegraphed pass on the Northampton line and his opposite number Reinach intercepted and ran the length of the field to score.
Piers Francis converted with Biggar temporarily off for a head injury assessment and Worcester were never going to come back.
Their scrum was strong, but their line-out fell to pieces in the final quarter while, for Saints, much promise can be taken as they relieved some of their relegation pressure.
Late on Biggar returned to the field to kick two more penalties and then Weir threw another intercept which Burrell picked off.
Worcester director of rugby Alan Solomons said: “I thought the key moment was when we were pushing for a try and they got the first intercept. That was a 14-point turnaround.
“We are disappointed not to put in a good performance, but the Premiership is a marathon not a sprint, there’s a long way to go.”