Northampton Saints 34-0 Perpignan
The Saints will need to beat Munster in Limerick next Friday to qualify for the knock-out stage
Also In The News
|
By Matt Hallam. |  |
Sunday, 17, Jan 2010 04:17
By Tom Powell.
Northampton Saints beat Perpignan 34-0 win at Franklins Gardens to set up a mouthwatering all or nothing encounter with Munster next Friday in Limerick.
The win means Northampton now have an outside chance of qualification but will need to go to Limerick and beat Pool 1 leaders Munster to make certain they are in the knock-out stage.
Even a loss in Ireland could be enough to qualify as one of the best runners-up but Saints would be relying on other results going their way.
In a scrappy opening 40 minutes Geraghty nudged the Saints ahead stroking over two penalties for a 6-0 half-time lead.
Three quick tries in the second half from Chris Ashton, Phil Dowson, Lee Dickson and Jon Clarke ensured victory along with a bonus point.
Northampton opted for Shane Geraghty at ten instead of Stephen Myler whilst Bruce Reihana started on the wing ahead of Paul Diggin.
Perpignan, with no chance of qualification, were playing for pride and had no fresh injury concerns before the game with South African Philip Burger taking his place at full-back.
Saints had a man advantage for ten minutes after Steve Meyer was sin-binned for obstruction but the hosts failed to take advantage.
The opening 25 minutes were littered with errors and tentative rugby before Geraghty kicked the hosts ahead after the French side were caught offside.
Geraghty was in the action again four minutes later as his last ditch sliding tackle prevented left-wing Adrien Plante from touching down after he'd broken clear of the Saints backline.
The game was beginning to come to life and after Geraghty's chip over the top was well defended by Joffrey Michel Saints were awarded another penalty which Geraghty stroked over for 6-0.
Three minutes after the break and a piece of magic from Ben Foden provided Ashton with a simple finish to stretch the lead to 13-0.
Full-back Foden collected the ball and dummied his way passed the Perpignan back line before offloading to Ashton who strolled in under the posts, Geraghty added the extras.
The Saints were totally dominated now and led 20-0 with 15 minutes of the second half gone. Geraghty's long pass found Clarke before the ball was shifted from Foden to Ashton who fed Phil Dowson for a simple finish.
Geraghty added the conversion and Saints went searching for a bonus point.
And they were soon just one try away from it with 20 minutes remaining as Neil Best broke from the back of the scrum and fed scrum-half Dickson who wriggled over from close range.
Replays suggested Dickson was short but the try was given and Geraghty added the conversion to make it 27-0.
Time was running out for Saints to grab the all important fourth try but Dylan Hartley and then Ashton kicked away possession as the home crowd became all the more anxious.
But with the last play of the game Jon Clarke surged down the right touchline to score in the corner and earn a bonus point much to the delight of the jubilant home crowd.
Myler's conversion made it 34-0 and Saints had put them in a great position to qualify next Friday night.
Elsewhere, London Irish's hopes of qualification took a huge dent as they threw away a 22-10 lead to lose 31-22 at Llanelli Scarlets.
Tries from Tom Homer, David Paice and Chris Hala'ufia but the Exiles into a commanding lead before Rob McCusker and Jonathan Davies grabbed a brace each to earn the Scarlets a bonus point victory.
The loss leaves London Irish trailing Pool 6 leaders Munster by five points with one match remaining whilst the Scarlets sit third, two points behind the Exiles.