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Northampton score late winning try to dent Saracens play-off hopes
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Northampton conjured a late try for Archie McParland to clinch a dramatic 21-17 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that further erodes Saracens’ play-off hopes.
McParland crossed with three minutes left to reward late pressure from Saints, who move six points clear at the top of the table after digging deep in a tense and bad-tempered showdown in north London.
Fergus Burke had put Saracens in the driving seat with a 73rd-minute penalty and his team had shown grit to battle back from an early 14-0 deficit, but they lacked their opponents’ firepower that swung the game in the closing stages.
South African giant JJ van der Mescht was held up over the line twice as Northampton searched for the crucial score and the title hopefuls also had to absorb the loss of fly-half Fin Smith to a failed HIA on the half hour mark.
But they had Smith’s fellow England stars Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman back in the saddle among six internationals returning from Six Nations duty and the extra class told when it mattered.
Fresh from their 62-15 thumping by Bath, Saracens showed concerning signs in defence by falling off tackles as Northampton made their intentions clear from the start.
Josh Kemeny powered through one challenge and several phases later Tom Litchfield was over under the posts after cutting inside, benefitting from the crisp passing of Smith and Rory Hutchinson.
Northampton continued to take advantage of the flimsy resistance when Smith sliced through midfield to set up a try for his half-back partner McParland.
Pollock had a try ruled out for crossing and Saracens needed a response to avoid being swept away and it arrived when strong carrying by Rhys Carre and Tom Willis built field position for Tobias Elliott to score after breaking through challenges by Furbank and Hutchinson.
Saracens had found their appetite for the fight and were aided by Smith’s departure, but a lengthy barrage in the visiting 22 ended when they were penalised for collapsing the scrum.
Two of their attacks broke down when Elliot Daly and then Owen Farrell passed to nobody, but the second-half opened with Theo Dan crashing over after an impressive drive downfield.
The 50-50s were now going Saracens’ way to confirm the tide was turning but at 14-14 the match was still finely poised and the feeling grew that the next try could be decisive.
Saints built up a head of steam entering the final 10 minutes and they almost crossed through Van der Mescht but the replacement second row was held up over the line having marauded down the left touchline.
It was then Saracens’ turn to advance deep into enemy territory and the raid produced a successful penalty for Burke – a significant reward given that defences were now ruling in north London.
Van der Mescht was held up over the line for a second time but Northampton would not be denied in the 78th minute when Litchfield was sent through a gap and a pass later McParland was over for his second try.
