6:09pm Sunday 14th March 2010
By Simon Mail
Saracens suffered more semi-final agony after a 31-20 defeat at Northampton Saints in the LV= Cup this afternoon.
The Men in Black made an encouraging start to the match and produced some of their best rugby for weeks. But the visitors still trailed 14-12 at the break and a yellow card to Richard Skuse proved crucial as the Saints scored two tries during his absence.
Saracens’ sixth semi-final defeat in four seasons left Brendan Venter’s team to concentrate on resurrecting their fading Guinness Premiership challenge over the next two months.
Ernst Joubert was handed the captaincy for the visitors with Wikus van Heerden missing with a shoulder injury. Kas Leamanua, Andy Saull and Mouritz Botha were recalled to the pack and for the Saints, Soane Tonga’uiha lined up against the club he is joining this summer.
Saracens had the first effort at the posts but Derick Hougaard’s speculative drop goal flew wide to a chorus of jeers from the crowd. The Men in Black made an excellent start to the game and a spell of attacking pressure resulted in the first penalty of the match after Northampton were caught offside. Hougaard easily kicked over the points to hand them an early lead.
But the Saints responded by pushing up the other end of the pitch and Phil Dowson was able to get the final touch on the attack to get their first try. Shane Geraghty’s conversion smacked off the post.
Saracens were forced into an early change when Leamanua went off with an injury and Tom Mercey, who is moving to Northampton next season, came on. The visitors were awarded another penalty but Hougaard sent the effort, from just inside his half, wide of the target.
The Saints were caught offside again after 14 minutes and Hougaard arrowed the kick between the posts to restore Sarries’ lead. Brendan Venter’s side were given another penalty when the Saints were penalised in the scrum and Hougaard converted the opportunity to extend their lead.
Saracens were reduced to 14 men midway through the half when Joubert flicked out and obstructed the Saints. Geraghty booted over the penalty to narrow the scoreline to just one point.
The Saints piled on the pressure in an effort to capitalise on their man advantage but tremendous defence from the visitors kept them at bay. Sarries had an opportunity on the break when Neil de Kock sent through a chip kick down the wing but the scrum half knocked on the ball just inside the Saints’ 22.
More decent approach play by the Men in Black resulted in another penalty for them which Hougaard fired over to give them a 12-8 lead. But Brad Barritt obstructed Northampton from the restart and Geraghty added the three points.
The home supporters launched chants of ‘boring’ throughout the match in frustration at repeated efforts by Hougaard to score a drop goal. Perhaps the crowd were just as unhappy with their lack of territory and possession during an impressive first-half showing from Saracens.
With only two minutes remaining in the half Northampton were handed the chance to regain the lead but Geraghty miscued his kick. Skuse was shown a yellow card on the stroke of half time for not rolling away from a tackle and Geraghty punished Saracens by converting the penalty to give them a half-time advantage.
Saracens were forced into another change when Chris Wyles was carried off with a leg injury after the restart with Richard Haughton taking his place.
Northampton made a dominant start to the second half and made their pressure count when a pacy break from Lee Dickson resulted in a pass to Brian Mujati and the prop dived over in the corner. Geraghty could not direct the conversion between the posts but the home side had built a 19-12 lead.
The Men in Black were being pulled apart and they were punished again as the Saints quickly added a third try. England prospect Chris Ashton raced towards the line and his offload found Paul Diggin for an easy finish. Geraghty again missed the conversion but the Saints were in control after their excellent spell.
Northampton should have added another three points from a close-range penalty but Geraghty’s terrible afternoon with the boot got worse when he smashed his kick against the crossbar.
Saracens desperately needed a try but they pulled themselves back to within nine points of the Saints with 20 minutes left when replacement fly half Glen Jackson kicked over a penalty.
The Saints still looked the more likely scorers and they put the match beyond the visitors with ten minutes remaining when another attack led to Neil Best crossing the line. Geraghty finally found his accuracy as his conversion made it 31-15.
Regardt Dreyer was shown a yellow card late on for the Saints and referee Roman Poite brandished two more cards to Mouritz Botha and Juandre Kruger for fighting.
Saracens got a try with five minutes remaining which their pressure deserved when Justin Melck broke through the defence. But Jackson’s kick cannoned off the post and the Saints were under no real pressure as they booked a final date with Gloucester next weekend.
Northampton Saints: Reihana, Ashton, Clarke, Downey, Diggin, Geraghty, Dickson (Dickens, 66); Tonga’uiha (Dreyer, 75), Sharman, Mujati, Lobbe, Kruger, Dowson, Best, Wilson
Saracens: Goode, Penney, Ratuvou, Barritt, Wyles (Haughton, 43), Hougaard (Jackson, 50), De Kock (Marshall, 50); Lealamanua (Mercey, 11, Brown, 63), Brits (Reynecke, HT), Skuse, Smith (Ryder, 53), Botha, Burger, Saull (Melck, 53), Joubert
Scoring: 0-3, 5-3, 5-6, 5-9, 8-9, 8-12, 11-12, 14-12 HT 19-12, 24-12, 24-15, 29-15, 31-15, 31-20
Referee: Romaine Poite
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/trade_directory/