1
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Saracens deserved a victory there. Outplayed Northhampton. Major refereeing blunder by Pierce by first not calling a clear forward pass during an injury time try. Then he appeared to put massive pressure on the TMO by stating several times that there must be absolute certainty because Pierce had called try. The TMO knows this. The refs only question should be: “Compelling evidence to overturn: yes or no?”
The TMO seemed to get the hint and said it wasn’t clear.
The pass was 2 foot lateral and about 1.5 foot forward. It wasn’t a try. Saracens were robbed.