Northampton hold off Falcons comeback for victory

Gallagher Premiership

Newcastle (10) 34

Cons: Connon 3 Pen: Connon 3 Tries: Blamire, Doherty, Hearle, Hearle, Stevenson, Pepper

Northampton (28) 35

With a five-try victory at Newcastle, the Northampton Saints kept their slim Premiership title defense alive.

After Jamie Blamire scored a try, Saints rallied to score four tries before half-time from hooker Craig Wright, prop Luke Green, Fin Smith, an early replacement, and debut winger Will Glister.

Before Saints scrum-half Tom James went over to push the visitors into a 35-15 lead, Connor Doherty, the center, gave the Falcons a reply shortly after the break.

In their final eight games, eight points clear of fourth-placed Gloucester, they must earn the most points to maintain their position as eighth in the table.

As Wright, age 21, scored on his first Premiership try for their opening try, they quickly opened up what appeared to be an unassailable lead in the north-east.

The game appeared to be over when James added a fifth try following Smith’s break and a pass inside from center Burger Odendaal.

Hearle finished well on the right wing when they swung play, and Stevenson then floated a pass to Ollie Fletcher in the corner.

Newcastle got their first point after Pepper intercepted and ran 80 yards for just one point in the final three minutes.

Alan Dickens, the senior coach for Newcastle, stated to BBC Radio Newcastle:

They scored three tries at the end of the first half, which was disappointing because we did a lot of good and put pressure on them.

To receive two bonus points for playing in the final fifteen minutes is a step in the right direction.

Replacements: Spencer, Rewcastle, Palframan, Baker, Leatherbarrow, Pepper, Arnold, and Fletcher.

Northampton: Glister, Odendaal, Hutchinson, Seabrook, Charlie Savala, James, West, Wright, Green, Munga, Lockett, Scott-Young, Pearson, Mapu, and Glister.

Walker, Haffar, Millar Mills, Mayanavanua, Augustus, Mitchell, Smith, and Witheat replace each other.