Northampton Saints secure fifth consecutive win over London Irish – Rugby news
Northampton Saints defeated London Irish to cement their place in the top four of the Aviva Premiership table.
Saints played Irish on April 23, 2011 at Madejski Stadium, Reading. Northampton Saints now have won the consecutive five games against the Irish.
London Irish were playing a must win game to give themselves a chance of making to the playoffs of the Aviva Premiership. However, the lost in the weekend game have pushed them seven points behind the fourth positioned Saints with 61 points.
Northampton Saints were playing their third game on day 8 and have shown some sort of tiredness during the second half as they allowed the Irish to score 13 points.
Both teams started the match with fighting for the ball and territory possession and both have their chances to score during the initial minutes of the game. However, Saints opened the scoring for the match after a great line break during the 18th minute
of the game. Saints Winger Chris Ashton out ran the London Irish Full Back and Winger to score the first try of the game during the 19th minute. Saints Fly Half Stephen Myler followed by his conversion from the touchline to give saints a 7-point
lead.
London Irish came back strongly through their Fly Half Tom Homer’s 27th minute and 30th minute penalties to reduce the lead to just a single point. Saints replied with an impressive run, which earned them a penalty. Saints Stephen Myler scored his first
penalty of the match after missing one earlier to extend his team lead to four points. Moments before the end of the first half Myler scored his second penalty of the night to keep the Irish trailing by seven points.
London Irish played the second half particularly the later part of second half exceptionally and really put pressure on the Saints who in the end hold off the Irish Surge to confirm their place in the playoffs.
Saints extended their lead with the Myler’s penalty during the 52nd minute and Ashton’s 57th minute try. During the 58th minute, Myler scored a conversion to extend the lead by 17 points. Saints made three critical changes, which allowed Irish to capitalise
as they scored 14 points in space of 5 minutes to reignite the game.
Irish substitute number 8 Richard Thorpe scored their first Try followed by Homer’s conversion during the 64th and 65th minute of the game respectively. Minutes later Irish Centre Seilala Mapusua scored Irish try as Irish find a hope for making to the Aviva
playoffs. Homers 69th minute conversion left Irish trailing by just three points.
However, Saints regrouped firmly as they denied any further scoring opportunities to the Irish. Saints extended their lead with Myler’s 73rd minute penalty to take the scorecard reading 26-20 that remained the same until the end of the second half.
Saints Chris Ashton for his superb performance during the match was awarded as the man of the match. Both sides have a match each remaining to play in the premiership as Irish will take on Leicester Tigers at Leicester, while Northampton Saints host Leeds
Carnegie at Franklin's Gardens, Northampton.
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