Saracens 12-18 Northampton: Saints make off with famous win against Owen Farrell-less Sarries
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ByOli Gent
Updated 02/12/2023 at 18:49 GMT
Northampton Saints turned in a fine performance to seal victory at Saracens in their Gallagher Premiership Rugby clash on Saturday night. In close to freezing conditions, the two sides sought to edge the aerial battle early on, before the Saints edged clear thanks in part to a sparkling try from Alex Mitchell. Sarries responded and brought back the score late on, but not by enough.
Fraser Dingwall of Northampton Saints goes past Nick Tompkins during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and Northampton Saints at the StoneX Stadium on December 02, 2023 in Barnet, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Northampton Saints recorded a surprise win over defending Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens, running out 18-12 winners at the StoneX Stadium.
In the first game since Owen Farrell’s shock announcement that he was stepping back from international rugby, the injured fly-half could only watch from the stands as his club side lost footing in their Premiership campaign, falling to the sixth-placed Saints in a low-quality affair in north London.
Two penalties from the boot of Fin Smith were the highlight of a drab first half, with both sides exchanging long and high kicks between their back threes, and defences remaining resolute.
Seven minutes into the second half, Saints stretched their hosts left and right, and after a strong break from George Furbank down the left, the ball was swiftly transferred to the right from the boot of Fraser Dingwall, where Ollie Sleightholme gratefully accepted the open try line to dot down and put his side 13-0 up, as Smith added the extras.
The hosts did similar as Tom Parton found himself in acres of space on the left as Mark McCall’s side looked to hit back, and they made the most of Saints’ 14 men with Alex Coles down injured. Manu Vunipola’s 20-yard pass found the winger, who touched down to add an element of excitement to the encounter.
As Sarries started to hammer on the door, it was the visitors whose counterpunch won it for them, as Alex Mitchell showed great hands to break through at pace after good work from his fellow replacement Temo Mayanavanua.
Sarries fought back once more after a battling break from Ollie Hartley, before an expert grubber knock from Alex Goode found the onrushing Alex Lewington, who crossed the whitewash after a perfect bounce, with Vunipola’s conversion putting the hosts within six.
But the Saints defensive line stayed compact as they ground out an important victory before the European break.
TALKING POINT - SARACENS HIT BY FARRELL LOSS
What with all happening around Owen Farrell this week, Saracens’ director of rugby Mark McCall insisted that he hadn’t spoken much to his squad about the fly-half.
However, his absence due to injury seemed to affect the home side dearly, as they lacked their usual fluid rhythm in attack, surrendering possession in the early exchanges as the Exiles had the better of the territory and ball.
Saints’ unity in defence was what dragged them over the line and to the points, but it seemed as though Saracens were disjointed, hampering any real momentum they could build, and as such, they miss the chance to move top of the Premiership table, with Northampton up to fifth.
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Alex Goode of Saracens holds onto the ball during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and Northampton Saints at the StoneX Stadium on December 02, 2023 in Barnet, England
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - COURTNEY LAWES, NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
It may have been his international team-mate Farrell who stole the headlines for his shock retirement earlier in the week, but another veteran of the game showed that he could still do it on the club stage after hanging up his international boots.
Courtney Lawes was imperious in the breakdowns, spurring on the Saints pack to shut out a talented and powerful Sarries attack, while remaining a powerhouse with the ball in his hands, gaining those vital extra yards.
PLAYER RATINGS
Saracens: Goode 7, Maitland 6, Cinti 5, Tompkins 5, Parton 6, Vunipola 6, van Zyl 6, West 6, Dan 6, Clarey 6, Itoje 6, McFarland 6, Gonzalez 6, Christie 6, Vunipola 6. Replacements: Lewington 7, Hartley 7, Davies 6, Judge 6, George 6, Vunipola 6, Tizard 6, Knight 6.
Saints: Furbank 7, Seabrook 7, Freeman 6, Dingwall 7, Sleightholme 7, Smith 7, James 6, Waller 6, Matavesi 6, Davison 6, Munga 6, Coles 7, Lawes 8, Pearson 6, Graham 7. Replacements: Hendy 6, Mitchell 7, Waller 6, Langdon 6, Millar Mills 6, Mayanavanua 7, Scott-Young 7.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
19’: PENALTY, SAINTS Saints are in front, and Fin Smith kicks them ahead after his earlier miss. 3-0.
28’: PENALTY, SAINTS Smith takes aim at goal once more as Saints look to double their lead. He steps up and it sneaks inside the near post for a 6-0 lead.
52’: TRY! We have our first five-point score, as the Saints stretch Sarries. Furbank breaks well down the left, and they work it back inside through the supporting James as Goode tackles well. Dingwall's cross-field kick finds Sleightholme in acres of space to run it home.
60’: TRY! Sarries are on the board, and it's Parton who's got it. They work it really well down the open side with Saints missing the injured Alex Coles, and Vunipola's accurate 20-metre pass out to the wide-open Parton gives the winger an easy run-in.
68’: TRY! A bolt from the blue as the Sarries momentum is stunted! Great hands from Mitchell, and Mayanavanua releases him, as the two replacements combine. The replacement scrum-half dummies, before touching down to silence the home crowd.
72’: TRY! What a nudge from Goode, and the touch down from Lewington is brilliant! Hartley does well with his carry, and the momentum continues as a fantastic grubber from Goode bounces perfectly for Lewington to dot down. Vunipola adds the extras!
KEY STAT
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