| Northampton: (10) 38 |
| Tries: Augustus, Sleightholme, Mitchell, Furbank Cons: Grayson 2, Furbank Pens: Grayson 2, Furbank 2 |
| London Irish: (0) 22 |
| Tries: Joseph, Penalty, Hassell-Collins Cons: Englefield Pens: Jackson |
Northampton bought their first win of the season as they beat London Irish 38-22.
Juarno Augustus’ attempt was the spotlight of a 62-minute first half which noticed Irish finish with 12 males after yellow playing cards for Adam Pearson, Henry Arundell and Rob Simmons, with a number of accidents.
Irish survived their interval with three fewer males, however Ollie Sleightholme and Alex Mitchell scored quickly after.
Will Joseph crossed for Irish earlier than they bought a penalty attempt, however George Furbank’s rating ended any Exiles hopes.
Ollie Hassell-Collins added a last-second comfort attempt for the guests however Phil Dowson earned his first win since taking up as Northampton director of rugby, whereas Irish suffered defeat for the primary time -having crushed financially stricken Worcester 45-14 final week.
Saints managed it with out Wales fly-half Dan Biggar, who had been on account of skipper the facet for the primary time however missed out by way of sickness.
Augustus crossed within the nook after some very good build-up play by scrum-half Mitchell, who chipped over the defence earlier than an ideal move to the South African.
Accidents to Irish pair Facundo Gigena and Adam Coleman noticed prolonged stoppages earlier than the guests ended the half with 12 males after a dramatic end to the interval – first Adam Pearson was yellow-carded after a excessive hit within the build-up to a disallowed attempt by Arundell, which ended with James Grayson kicking a Saints penalty.
Arundell was then sin-binned for stopping a try-scoring alternative, and Rob Simmons was given 10 minutes’ relaxation for collapsing a maul within the last moments.
Regardless of being three males down Irish really out-scored Saints because of Paddy Jackson’s penalty quickly after the break – however at 15-a-side Sleightholme cruised in after a pleasant crew transfer, earlier than a wonderful dummy from Mitchell opened up a niche within the Exiles defence and Grayson added one other penalty.
However Joseph went in on the nook after a beautiful break by Irish, earlier than a deliberate knock-on Grayson with 14 minutes left noticed him go to the sin-bin and referee Luke Pearce award a penalty attempt to deliver the Exiles again into it.
Nonetheless, Furbank’s penalty moved Saints 13 factors clear, earlier than he went over beneath the posts after good work by Alex Coles to seal the bonus-point victory, after which added one other penalty earlier than Hassell-Collins’ very late attempt.
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson:
“We did not actually make the most of the numerical benefit.
“We weren’t medical sufficient, we did not maintain maintain of the ball and we compelled issues, which is irritating however what we did do is we caught to our weapons when it bought again to fifteen apiece and we managed to get on prime.
“Huge components of our sport got here again, however it’s robust enjoying with 12 guys – we have achieved it previously a few seasons in the past and it does take it out of you.
“That fatigue component was additionally a part of it within the final 20 minutes. We might have been means higher in that space, however we bought our sport again on plan and we managed to capitalise.”
London Irish director of rugby Declan Kidney:
“There have been loads of issues there that had been in our management that we will do higher.
“I feel there have been a few momentum swings within the sport too, so I feel the 2 of these issues mixed in all probability price us as the sport went on.
“I feel it is properly inside our grasp to be that significantly better and honest play to Northampton, we knew they had been going to be properly up for it, however there are learnings for us to take.
“You could possibly say there was a four-point swing in that 9 minutes, which is not the worst factor with three males (within the sin bin).
“They solely scored on the finish of the three males coming again on and within the minute earlier than that, we will in all probability management these moments higher.”
Northampton: Furbank; Sleightholme, Proctor, Hutchinson, Collins; J Grayson, Mitchell; Wallace, Matavesi, Hill, Salakaia-Loto, Moon, Coles, Hinkley, Augustus.
Replacements: Haywood, Iyogun, Petch, Nansen, Scott-Younger, Braley, Litchfield, Skosan.
London Irish: Arundell; Loader, Rona, Janse Van Rensburg, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, White; Gigena, Cornish, Chawatama, Simmons, Coleman, Donnell, Pearson, Rogerson.
Replacements:Miller, Fischetti, Parker, Ratuniyarawa, Cunningham-South, Englefield, Morisi, Joseph.
Referee: Luke Pearce
