Hayward gets Saints ‘out of jail’

CHRIS BOYD admitted he had given up the ghost on his Northampton side before a late fightback saw them snatch a vital 36-31 win in their play-offs bid.

Bath sailed into a 31-12 lead courtesy of tries from Max Clark, Will Muir and two from Ben Spencer. But an Alex Mitchell score, a penalty try and then one from the final play of the game by Mike Hayward saw Saints take the spoils and leap into fourth place in the table.

Director of rugby Boyd said: ‘I thought our season was over but we sneaked over for the win in the end.

‘The boys used their get-out-ofjail card and they know they won’t get that opportunity again against either Harlequins or Saracens, who we play in the next two games.’

Wasps are setting their sights high after a 41-12 victory over Worcester Warriors that kept their semi-final hopes alive.

Gabriel Oghre crossed twice in the second half, with Tom West, Josh Bassett, Elliott Stooke and Tom Willis helping them make it six tries on the day.

And with Wasps now just six points behind fourth-placed Northampton, head coach Lee Blackett is daring to dream. He said: ‘We have two competitions and will be going flat out in every single game from now on. There’s no priority. You want to win both.

‘Out there today were some really good performances. We gelled a little bit better as well but I still think there are loads more in us.’