Northampton Saints amazing second-half performance guides them to a 31-24 win over Leeds Carnegie
Home crowd witnessed their own team left stunned, as the Northampton Saints demolished them 31-24.
This defeat left Leeds to face a 3rd relegation in the previous six seasons. It was a stunner from Saints, as Leeds had nothing to prove. The home side produced stellar in the opening half and left the field leading 24-15 at the break against Jim Malinder’s
men. However, the Saints thrashed the home side to secure their fourth place in the table, as Nel Nack’s men failed to score any points after the break.
Neil Back’s men will be relegated as only Warriors meet Premiership entry criteria, if the Worcester win the two-legged Championship play-offs against the Cornish Pirates.
The home started the match on a high-note, as Hendre Fourie the English flanker crossed the line in the 4h minute to start the get on with the scoring. Adrian Jarvis, Fly-Half, added the extras to Fourie's efforts. Four minutes later, Neil Back got ecstatic
when Jarvis yet again proved that he is more than reliable with the boot and Rhys Oakley touched down. Eight minutes on the clock, and the score-line reading 14-0 in the favour of the home side.
The Jimmies fly0half Shane Geraghty give the visiting side a sigh of relief in the 12th minute with a penalty. However, the influential Jarvis, who proved an exceptional threat for the visitors at fly-half, replied strongly with one of his own
sublime performance. In the 18th minute, Leeds Carnegie was in fairyland when Peter Wackett, the winger crossed the line for a try. Jarvis was once again exceptional with his boot. Neil Back’s men were en route for a spectacular victory at their
home turf.
The home side wing Lee Blackett and the Saints wide-man Paul Diggin was sin-binned. In the 29th minute, Phil Dowson provided a touchdown to give the visiting crowd something to cheer. However, Geragthy missed the conversion with his boot. Leeds
then lost their forward Juan Gomez to the sin-bin. Two minutes before the break, the Saints were awarded with a penalty try and Geraghty made sure he converts this time around to make it 24-15.
After the break, the visitors started with aggressive intent and showed their dominance in defence. Seven minutes after the break, England’s wing Chris Ashton stormed and made his way through and Jimmies again converted for the visiting side. Stephen Myler
then added three penalties before the end of the match to secure their fourth place in the table with the match ending 31-24 win in favour of the Saints.
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