Falcons leave it late to give Saints big shock

THRILLING LATE SHOW CLINCHES THE POINTS

MARK Wilson’s 86th-minute try and Toby Flood’s conversion gave Newcastle Falcons a shock 16-14 win at Northampton Saints in a thrilling Gallagher Premiership encounter at Franklin’s Gardens.

Bottom-of-the-table Newcastle had trailed 14-9 in the closing stages after Cobus Reinach’s try double for the hosts.

But Wilson – back from England international duty – was on hand at the end to break the Saints with Flood simply adding the twopoints in front of the posts to give the Falcons their third Premiership win of the season.

England captain Dylan Hartley returned from international duty for the Saints for his 250th appearance for the club.

Flood kicked Newcastle ahead inside two minutes after Jamie Gibson was penalised for taking out a player in the air at the game’s first lineout.

Biggar was pulling the strings at outsidehalf for the hosts, demonstrating his worth as Wales’ number one 10. His inch-perfect reverse ball to Ahsee Tuala sent the full-back running towards the try-line but the held to clear lines. That was a repeating story as the Saints went without reward for a number of promising attacks. Unforced errors hampered the hosts in the first half. Biggar’s loose pass led to the Saints being visitors firm their penalised at the breakdown with Courtney Lawes’ comment to referee Matthew Carley seeing Flood going from a kick to touch to a shot at goal, which the former England international duly took to double Newcastle’s lead.

Eventually, after 30 minutes, the Saints had their breakthrough.

Gibson’s clever pass found Reinach, who beat three tackles to cross at the posts for his first try. Biggar converted and on the stroke of the interval found touch with a penalty – but the hosts could not make the most of a golden opportunity. N o r t h a m p t o n