NORTHAMPTON 28 CASTRES 21

NORTHAMPTON suffered a blow when prop Kieran Brookes was a late withdrawal with a back spasm but they overcame that setback to make a blistering start.

When Castres were penalised on halfway, Saints secured a platform in the visitors’ 22 before exerting tremendous pressure, which culminated in a third-minute try for Harrison.

Both sides were intent on playing attacking rugby in the opening stages but the next score came via a Kockott penalty after Wood was offside at a ruck.

Wood soon made amends with a couple of powerful bursts as Saints continued to dominate the first quarter with Castres hooker Jody Jenneker collecting a yellow card for dragging down a driving maul but after 20 minutes it was still only 7-3 to the hosts.

Saints failed miserably to capitalise on Jenneker’s absence by conceding a number of careless penalties and it was the French who scored before the hooker could return.

Penetrative runs from Geoffrey Palis and Robert Ebersohn breached the Saints’ defence to create a try for Bias.

That lead did not last long though as straight from the restart Nic Groom’s break put the visitors on the back foot which resulted in an easy run-in for Myler.

It could have got worse for Castres as Harrison burst away from a lineout before going on a thrilling 40-metre run but Juan Pablo Estelles knocked on with the try line beckoning.

However, Harrison’s efforts didn’t go unrewarded as he crashed over for his second with another conversion from Myler giving Saints a 21-8 half-time lead.

After the restart Kockott missed a penalty but the introduction of former Leicester flanker Steve Mafi and regular captain Rodrigo Capo Ortega galvanised Castres, who picked up the next score with a try from Dumora.

Two Kockott penalties brought the French level as the game approached the final quarter.

Myler had a kickable penalty chance but Saints opted for an attacking lineout and it proved the correct call as Wood forced his way over to secure the win and obtain a bonus point.