Falcons Finish Sixth

By Ridley Hall
May 12 2002

Somehow you knew this was going to happen. A brave but losing performance at a rejuvenated Saints eventually going down 24-19. So we slip into sixth place ... not good enough to guarantee a Heineken Cup place [although I'm still very confident] and an away play off at Glaws. Good job we made up.

Saints went ahead with a penalty from Paul Grayson who then went over after Saints knocked us back with some excellent rolling mauls.

But we stuck in and Jonny got three points back after 32 minutes and then used one of his looping passes to set Jamie Noon away. He wisely angled inside and found Pat Lam in support who was able to feed High Vyvyan who gratefully accepted the opportunity to round off a superb move. Jonny converted and we deserved our 8-10 half time lead

Saints came staright back and forced us into two penalties which Grayson accepted and the came the turning point when Vyvyan was sin binned for pulling down at the line out. Spreadbury gave a yellow but others wouldn't have.

The Saints made the most of their advantage using the pick and drive to great effect and scored with Dawson sending in Mark Soden to make it 21-10 to Saints.

We weren't finished but our pressure could only produce three penalties for Jonny, in just five minutes, but not the try we needed. In the last minute Grayson added a penalty.

Northampton: Shaw, Brooks, Jorgensen [Tukcer 11], Leslie, Cohen [Beal 40], Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson [Richmond 40], Stewart [Morris 40], Phillips, Brouzet, Blowers, Pountney [Seely 31], Soden. Replacements: Richmond, Morris, Hunter, Seely, Malone, Tucker, Beal.

Falcons: Walder, Stephenson, Noon, May [Tuuigamala 68], Botham, Wilkinson, Charlton, Graham, Thompson [Makin 65], Hurter, Vyvyan, Grimes [Lam 38], Dunbar, Mower[Devonshire 40], Arnold. Replacements: Armstrong, Tuigamala, Devonshire, Lam, Makin, Boyd, Weir.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).