Last-second Saints try hits Saracens’ play-off hopes

Gallagher Premiership

Northampton (7) 28

Cons: Smith, Hutchinson, Kemeny, Haffar 2, and Cons:

Saracens (19) 24

With a final-second try from Tarek Haffar, reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints defeated Saracens 28-24 to put an end to Sarries’ playoff chances.

Before Elliot Daly added a third, Josh Kemeny’s early try for Saints was halted by a close-range try from Tom Willis and a well-worked try from Juan Martin Gonzalez.

As the hosts wasted a number of good chances to increase their tally, Rotimi Segun scored the bonus-point try just before Saints replacement Haffar scored one back.

After Andy Onyeama-Christie pulled down a maul, Saints earned a penalty-try, and Haffar went over as the clock ticked past the 80-minute mark to make a fantastic comeback.

Saracens made their first appearance at Franklin’s Gardens since losing there in the Premiership semi-final last year, returning the majority of their regular starting lineup after resting them for the trip to lowly Exeter last week.

Kemeny just had enough momentum to cross the Sarries line in the eighth minute to put the hosts ahead before Fin Smith’s grubber kick was picked up.

Saracens responded almost right away as Willis forced himself to turn around following a close-range lineout.

When Elliot Daly broke through the Saints’ line and sent Gonzalez in the right corner, a lovely passing move doubled the try count midway through the half.

When the bonus point was secured, especially when Saints had a try that was ruled out five minutes later when replays revealed Alex Coles had lost control of the ball as he dived in the corner, it appeared as though the win would be routine for Saracens.

However, after an hour, Yaffar scored from close range before Tom Seabrook missed a crucial opportunity by running down a corner but getting the ball back after Ivan van Zyl had slipped.

In the final eight minutes, Saints scored twice, not to mention the missed chances.

Phil Dowson, Northampton’s rugby director:

“The bench took it to a different physical level than the first half, where we were drab and lackluster.”

The final play’s forward pass calls were “in the gods’ lap.” Thankfully, it turned out to be a 50-50 call.

“Our second-half performance, even if it hadn’t, still showed a lot about our organization because we dominated in terms of territory and possession,” she continued.

On the shoulder injury front, Curtis [Langdon] has a previous stinger on his shoulder. James Ramm’s shin sprained sharply, and Alex Coles has a knee problem. It’s too early to speculate, but there might still be doubts for the following week.

Rugby Saracens coach Mark McCall:

We were completely disoriented in the final 20 minutes, so it was a painful experience and a disorienting conclusion.

“We played with intensity and exactly as we had planned, winning the European Cup at the end of the first half,” said one player.

The gap between our best and worst performances is “too big,” according to the performance today, to fully capture our mixed-bag season.

Replacements: Seabrook, Garside, Haffar, Millar Mills, Prowse, Scott-Young, Weimann, and Wright.

Saracens: Goode, Elliott, Daly, Tompkins, Segun, Burke, van Zyl, Mawi, George, Riccioni, Itoje (capt), Isiekwe, Gonzalez, Earl, Willis, and others.

Dan, Brantingham, Clarey, Tizard, McFarland, Onyeama-Christie, Bracken, and Hall are the replacements.

Onyeama-Christie is awarded a yellow card.