Northampton Saints beat Edinburgh to qualify for Heineken Cup quarterfinals
Northampton Saints are the first team to register themselves in Heineken Cup quarter finals after thrashing Edinburgh by 37-0. The Saints piled up their fifth consecutive victory this season. It was Paul Diggin who scored record four tries to cement the
place of Saints in quarter finals. Despite the fact they hammered Edinburgh, Saints seemed as though they won’t get the essential bonus point ahead of their visit to Castres next week. It was known though that Saints would qualify for Quarter final either
they win or not. Their victory against Castres will guarantee them a home quarter final.
The game was an apathetic situation until the last ten minutes, where Saints showered three consecutive tries in to the trembled defense. Brian Mujati also scored a try for Saints which was confirmed by video referee afterwards and Stephen Myler kicked two
penalties and two conversions to add up to Saints’ total score. Joe Ford also added a conversion in second half of the match.
Northampton Saints now stand at the top of the table with a ten points cushion and with only one last round of fixtures to play. After learning lesson from the harsh defeat from their bitter rivals Leicester Tigers, all is well now for Northampton Saints
in European Cup.
Jim Moffat, the Edinburgh’s coach assured before the match that his team will play fast and will not get into a dog fight with their muscular rivals. But just thirty seconds in to the game Geoff Cross lived up to his surname and gave an angry late crunch
to Northampton Saints’ outside half Stephen Mayer. Monsieur Berdos the French referee didn’t take notice and waved to play on.
Five minutes later, Saints came back with a precise and planned response. Myler kicked a penalty to touch and the Saints moved further from lineout before a try beneath a pile up on Edinburgh’s line was scored by Brian Mujati. Myler converted and then shot
a penalty to give Northampton Saints a healthy 10 point lead. In response the Scots came strong with their counter attack but Saints defense was too strong to breakthrough. Before the first half Edinburgh’s prop Carl Trainer was sin binned when referee spotted
him using his fists.
Later on Paul Diggins added fuel to the fire by picking up a fumble and scoring a try, piercing through the defense. Saints score went to 15-0 and only thirty minutes had passed. Even if Edinburgh had planned in the interval to come up with a strategy, it
must have been thrashed as Saints score more in second half. Just after the kick off, a penalty was awarded to Saints adding three more points for Myler.
Everything seemed to be perfect for Northampton Saints on a day like Friday. Diggin became the highlight by scoring a second try in the 70th minute of the game. He rushed down through the left wing as Edinburgh’s defender crumbled around him bushed and tattered.
Diggin scored his hat-trick shortly after, when Joe Ansbro offloaded him from beneath the posts. And then came the fourth try by Diggin.
He gave a post match comment, “We don't fear any team coming here.” Even the coach Jim Mallinder said in a very excited mode, “He's not the fastest winger, “But Digger gets into great positions and he's been doing that all season.”
Cardiff Blues claimed a deserved 14-9 victory in Heineken Pool one match and still have hopes to get qualified for Amlin Challenge Cup. Cardiff Blues were disappointed earlier and didn’t have any hopes for qualifying for top eights, but this win has kept
them in the runners up list which can put them in quarter finals of the Challenge Cup. Blues may be regretting to lose the bonus point which French visitors took away to keep themselves in second place with one point and one round to go.
Saints stand at top with 21 points and Castres hold on to their 2nd position, while Edinburgh has moved down to the bottom with seven points. Cardiff Blues are standing at third position in Pool 1.
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