The stakes were high at Franklin's Gardens this afternoon ' for the home team. Their survival in the Premiership was the prize, depending on what happened at Sixways in the West Midlands. London Irish for the second time in four seasons found itself in the unenviable position of having a crucial role to play in deciding whether or not their opposition survived in the top flight.
Untouchable in sixth place in the league, the most important motivation for the Exiles was pride and a desire to send off departing players with a winning performance. On a perfect afternoon for rugby and in front of 13,538 partisan supporters Irish made their attacking intentions clear from the opening minutes. Justin Bishop was pulled up with the try line at his mercy as a recipient of a forward pass in the first minute.
It took another four minutes before Irish crossed the whitewash for the first time. Topsy Ojo broke through midfield from 40 metres out and weaved his way with a mesmerising solo run through the defence to touch down just left of the posts. Nils Mordt's successful conversion sent the first waves of doubt through the home fans.
As the first quarter unfolded Irish continued to have the better of territory and possession. The obvious tension of the occasion appeared to permeate to the Saints backs in particular as their decision-making was uncertain. Their first incursion into the Irish 22 came in the 13th minute. They forced a scrum on the right, Mark Robinson passed to Carlos Spencer who found Bruce Reihana on the left, he had sufficient space to beat Ojo to the line for the home team's opening try which he converted.
The former New Zealand full back kicked a penalty in the 18th minute to give his team the lead. That was to last just three minutes. Ojo started a counter-attack from his 22. He passed to Sailosi Tagickibau who found a storming Declan Danaher to take the move on. The flanker passed to Justin Bishop who sold a clever dummy before sending Seilala Mapusua away to score in the right corner. Mordt missed the difficult conversion to leave the score at 12-10 to the visitors.
Saints were holding their own in the lineouts but were under pressure in the scrums. This inconsistency denied them the ability to mount sustained attacks. When they did Robinson and Spencer were at the heart of the action. In the 28th minute Ben Cohen was penalised for crossing with a clean break through midfield tantalisingly beckoning.
Mordt had the chance to stretch his team's lead in the 32nd minute but his penalty from 41st metres drifted just right of the post. With both teams determined to run the ball at every opportunity, it was disappointing that a variety of errors spoiled the momentum. Stout defending was essential and a Danaher tackle on Paul Tupai typified the Exiles' commitment as it echoed around the West Stand! Irish finished the half with their two point lead intact. But the news from Sixways was worrying for the Saints.
With the wind in their favour and playing down the slope it was inevitable that Saints were going to come at Irish from the re-start. An initial foray deep inside the Irish 22 was repulsed and Saints were fortunate when Ben Cohen just beat Tagicakibau to the touch down in the goal area.
Spencer kicked a penalty to touch in the 44th minute to set up a lineout and good attacking position. Having won the lineout, Saints moved the play right then left before Sean Lamont came off his wing to burst through the defence and score to the right of the posts. Reihana added the extras to regain the lead by 17-12.
The score encouraged the home team who went on to have their most sustained attacking period of the game. Irish were forced to concede a penalty which Reihana slotted between the posts to extend the lead to 20-12.
The celebration of the score was muted as news filtered through from Sixways that Worcester had consolidated their lead over Saracens. Saints knew that they had to build on their lead but they were thwarted by an Exiles team that was in no mood to surrender. As the game moved into its final quarter it was Irish that was applying the pressure. Three lineouts inside the Saints' 22 were won and driven. However, despite some blatant pulling down of the resulting driven mauls Irish struggled to add to their score. It took until the 55th minute before Irish had anything to show for their efforts and that was a penalty in front of the posts kicked by Mordt.
Saints countered from the re-start and forced a scrum just inside the Irish 22. This time the Saints push was solid and Robinson snapped up the bal and raced through to score under the posts. Reihana added the easy conversion for a score of 27-15.
With 18 minutes to go and news from Sixways sounding more and more ominous for Saints' Premiership prospects, both teams tried to freshen up the on-field action with a series of replacements. Spencer tried to orchestrate pressure situations by running the ball or by a series of tactical kicks, one 50+ metre kick secured a good attacking position just outside the Irish 22, the resulting lineout was stolen by Bob Casey which just about summed up the home side's afternoon.
Thereafter Irish were content to work the ball through the phases and retain possession and were rewarded in the final minute when Mapusua broke through midfield to score under the posts. Justin Bishop kicked the conversion and his final points for London Irish ' well he deserved the honour, after all it was that sort of an afternoon!
Confirmation of the final score from Sixways confirmed the worst fears of the large home crowd who face Division One rugby next season. The Exiles quietly packed their bags and slipped away after the post-match formalities to rest and prepare for whatever the new season brings.
Apologies for the delayed posting of this report, it is due to technical problems with the website.
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Scorers: Northampton Saints: Tries: Reihana (14), Lamont (44), Robinson (63), Conversions: Reihana 3. Penalty goal: Reihana (48). London Irish: Tries: Ojo (5), Mapusua 2 (21, 79); Conversions: Mordt, Bishop. Penalty goal: Mordt (55).
Scoring sequence (Northampton Saint first): 0-7, 7-7, 10-7, 10-12 (half-time) 17-12, 20-12, 20-15, 27-15, 27-22.
Northampton Saints: B Reihana (captain), S Lamont, J Clarke (rep: P Diggin, 72), R Kydd, B Cohen, C Spencer, M Robinson (rep: J Howard, 75), T Smith (rep: D Richmond, 58), M Cortese, J Brooks (rep: C Budgen, 42), D Browne (rep: D Gerrard, 71), C Short, P Tupai, B Lewitt, C Labit.
London Irish: T Ojo (rep: D Armitage, 63), J Bishop, S Mapusua, N Mordt, S Tagicakibau, R Flutey, P Hodgson (rep: R Rees, 72), N Hatley (rep: D Paice, 73), D Paice (rep: D Coetzee, 48), T Lea'aetoa (rep: M Collins, 40), N Kennedy (rep: J Hudson, 63), B Casey (captain), K Roche (rep: O Magne, 48), D Danaher, P Murphy (rep: G Johnson, 72).
Referee: Mr Chris White (RFU)