Northampton Saints deal huge blow to Saracens’ play-off hopes

Northampton replacement prop Tarek Haffar scored two tries in the final quarter of a 28-24 home Gallagher Premiership win that put a huge dent in Saracens’ hopes of securing an end-of-season play-off spot.

The visitors, who were 24-7 ahead at one stage, looked sure-fire winners but a remarkable and spirited comeback saw Saints score three converted tries, one with the last play of the game.

Saracens have now lost on their last five trips to Northampton and their defeat means that the play-off spot is now out of their hands as a Bristol victory next week will secure the West Country side that coveted fourth-placed position.

Tom Willis, Juan-Martin Gonzalez, Alex Goode and Rotimi Segun each crossed over for Saracens, with Fergus Burke converting two.

Josh Kemeny scored the hosts’ first try and there was also a penalty try award, with Rory Hutchinson kicking two conversions and Fin Smith adding one.

Gallagher Premiership

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Bath

16

13

3

0

66

2

Leicester

16

10

5

1

56

3

Sale

17

11

6

0

54

4

Bristol

17

9

8

0

53

5

Gloucester

17

9

8

0

51

6

Saracens

17

9

8

0

51

7

Northampton

17

8

9

0

43

8

Harlequins

16

7

8

1

43

9

Exeter Chiefs

16

4

12

0

26

10

Newcastle

17

2

15

0

13

It took Saints just seven minutes to take the lead when a well-judged chip ahead from Smith was gathered by Kemeny, who scrambled over.

The visitors’ response was swift with surges from Elliot Daly and Goode putting the defence on the back foot before Willis proved unstoppable from close-range.

Daly was also instrumental in his side’s second try when a well-timed pass from Burke sent him sailing through a gap before his long pass created a try for Gonzalez. This was the flanker’s fourth in two games after a hat-trick against Newcastle previously.

The momentum was clearly with the away side and they could have easily extended their lead but Daly well was off-target with a 35-metre drop-goal attempt.

Northampton suffered a blow when Curtis Langdon departed with a shoulder injury. After coming off second best in a hefty collision with Ben Earl, the hooker had struggled on for 10 minutes before being forced to give up the ghost.

There was soon to be another setback for the home side as their opponents scored a third try. Skilful movement of the ball created the overlap for Tobias Elliott, whose inside pass provided Goode with a walk in.

Both sides then suffered injuries with Northampton’s James Ramm and Saracens’ Gonzalez departing, but the visitors were firmly in control at the interval when they led 19-7.

Three minutes after the break, the game looked virtually over as more impressive handling from the away side ended with Segun running 30 metres for the crucial bonus-point try.

Saints badly needed a score to remain in contention and they looked to get one when Alex Coles appeared to have crashed over but TMO replays showed that the lock had lost possession.

However, soon after Smith was replaced, Northampton scored a second through Haffar and that was the precursor for them to have their best period of the match.

They dominated the final quarter and were rewarded with a penalty try for collapsing with Andy Onyeama-Christie sent to the sin-bin for the offence.

It set up a nerve-jangling finish and despite the suspicion of two forward passes, Haffar raced over to leave Saracens crestfallen.