Saints end losing streak
MATCH REPORT: Northampton Saints put an end to their four-game losing streak in Premiership Rugby with a hard-fought 16-10 victory over Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium.
A Haywood try and 11 points from the boot of James Grayson got their top-four challenge back on track as Warriors were consigned to a sixth defeat on the spin despite Ollie Lawrence’s second-half score.
The visitors took the lead after nine minutes with a Grayson penalty after Warriors were reduced to 14 men when Ryan Mills was sent to the sin-bin for blocking Cobus Reinach.
But Warriors responded after a period of pressure and territory, which resulted in Tom Collins also seeing yellow, with three points of their own coming from Jono Lance’s boot.
Warriors continued to look threatening in attack, with Lawrence a particular nuisance, but they failed to capitalise on their chances as Saints scored the opening try through Haywood.
Grayson added the extras and a further penalty before the break to give the visitors a 13-3 cushion at the break but the hosts responded with less an hour to play.
Lawrence barged over the line and Lance converted to cut the deficit to three before Grayson added a further three points in the final five minutes to secure a much-needed Saints win.
The scorers:
For Worcester Warriors:
Try: Lawrence
Con: Lance
Pen: Lance
For Northampton Saints:
Try: Haywood
Con: Grayson
Pen: Grayson 3
Yellow cards: Ryan Mills (Worcester Warriors, 7), Tom Collins (Northampton Saints, 13)
Teams:
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Nick David, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Andrew Kitchener, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Matt Moulds (captain), 1 Ethan Waller
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Kai Owen, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 GJ van Velze, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Scott van Breda
Northampton Saints: 15 Harry Mallinder, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Andrew Symons, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 James Grayson, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison (captain), 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Lewis Bean, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Ben Glynn, 20 JJ Tonks, 21 Henry Taylor, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Ahsee Tuala
Referee: Andrew Jackson
Assistant Referees: Paul Dix & Jamie Leahy.
TMO: David Rose.
@PremRugby