MYLER’S LATE KICK GIVES SAINTS A LIFELINE
STEPHEN MYLER kicked a last-minute penalty to earn Northampton a draw which all but guarantees his side a home play-off semi-final. In a stop-start game ruined by weak officiating by referee Matthew Carley, Myler kicked the levelling penalty with a minute left. Moments earlier George Ford — who also scored a try and two other penalties — appeared to have won the game for third-placed Bath when he kicked a long-range penalty to make the score 19-16. But Myler levelled after a tackle infringement by Anthony Perenise. Northampton dominated the opening exchanges without penetrating a resolute Bath defensive line. Fly-half Myler kicked a sixth-minute penalty, but despite overwhelming territorial advantage Saints failed to create a clear tryscoring opportunity. Bath lost hooker Rob Webber after 17 minutes when his foot was caught in a ruck and his knee twisted, prompting a cry of pain from the England hopeful. His hopes of making next month’s New Zealand tour must now be in doubt. Bath fly-half Ford levelled matters at 3-3 and a further penalty apiece from the No10s made it 6-6 at half time. Shortly after, Ford scored a magnificent try following a charge by lock Dave Attwood allowed the young fly-half to jink past two defenders before turning on the after burners. He converted to make it 13-6 but Saints wing Jamie Elliott crossed on 54 minutes, and Myler converted to set up a nail-biting finish. Ford kicked Bath in front with his third penalty on 63 minutes and Saints had Courtney Lawes sent to the sin bin two minutes later. Myler kicked another penalty before Ford appeared to have won the game, only for Carley to award another late penalty which Myler converted.