Northampton edge past Wasps but see play-off hopes ended by Harlequins
Northampton completed a season’s double over Wasps despite seeing their play-off hopes ended before kick-off.
Harlequins’ five-point win at Bath ended Saints’ chances of reaching the post-season but with rivals Leicester threatening to overtake them, they showed a desire missing in the two previous rounds to secure a 30-25 win.
Courtney Lawes had 66 minutes on the field after returning from injury ahead of the Lions tour and made an immediate impact as Northampton used two penalties in the opening minute to set up a line-out five metres out. When Wasps failed to guard their maul’s right side, Sam Matavesi took advantage.
Wasps had won on four of their five previous visits to Franklin’s Gardens and as they adapted to the referee Adam Leal’s low tolerance threshold for infringements at the breakdown, drew level with a gem of a try.
After Brad Shields lost possession 10 metres from the home line, Northampton kicked to halfway where Wasps set up a ruck. Thomas Young picked up and, spotting a gap at the side, ran through it and weaved his way to the 22, committing two defenders to set up Dan Robson.
Young blew a chance of his own after knocking on following an interchange with Josh Bassett but at the point Wasps appeared to have taken control, Northampton regained the lead.
Charlie Atkinson, out of position at full-back, fumbled Tommy Freeman’s kick deep in his 22. Jacob Umaga picked up as Matavesi and Fraser Dingwall challenged, but from an offside position. Northampton were awarded a penalty try and the outside-half was sent to the sin-bin.
Wasps equalised in his absence when Brad Shields scored after a line-out, but Dan Biggar put the home side in front again after Biyi Alo was penalised at a scrum, only for Umaga to respond to make it 17-17 at the interval.
Wasps had started by driving Northampton back in the scrum, but it became the weakest part of their game. Biggar put the Saints back in front for the fourth time after another collapse, minutes after a Zach Kibirige try was ruled out because of a forward pass.
Ollie Sleightholme thwarted a Wasps break-out by overhauling his opposite number Bassett and, as the game started to break up, was denied a 95-metre try after a review showed he had knocked on after taking possession from Bassett.
Biggar and Umaga exchanged penalties to make it 23-20 before Wasps, sloppy all afternoon, gave the match away. Will Rowlands, who had earlier wasted a three-man overlap, lost possession after a line-out near his line and Tom Wood pounced, although Dave Ribbans appeared to have knocked on.
Biggar, who had escaped a review for a challenge on Umaga that may interest the citing commissioner, limped off before Tom Willis’s try earned Wasps a bonus point that did not dim the 4,000 crowd’s joy.
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I’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
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