Hougaard's boot KOs Northampton as Saints fall

Saracens vs. Northampton Saints
September 26, 2010
Vicarage Road, Watford

HT: 15-12
FT: 24-17

Saracens extended their winning streak against Northampton Saints and in doing so ended the Premiership’s only remaining 100 per cent record this season, winning at Vicarage Road 24-17.

Last season’s beaten Premiership finalists were the more composed of the two sides who didn’t become overawed by the visitors making the better start to the game, and capitalised with the metronomic boot of South African fly-half Derick Hougaard kicked in difficult conditions,

Saints travelled to Watford without the injured Chris Ashton and rested Courtney Lawes as part of the England Elite Performance Squad agreement and couldn’t recreate the cutting edge and spark which has optimised their exciting performances this season.

The signs looked good for Northampton, the front-row immediately taking off from where they left last week against Bath by dominating the scrum, presenting Shane Geraghty with the opportunity to kick his side into the lead after just five minutes.

Opposite number, Derick Hougaard levelled but Saracens were immediately pegged back with a penalty, though it could have been a lot worse.

With a three-on-two opportunity Geraghty put through a delightful grubber kick but Bruce Reihana failed to gather the slippy ball. An advantage was being played by referee Dave Pearson – whose late arrival at the ground due to traffic delayed the kick-off – and Geraghty restored the three point advantage.

But the fly-half failed to extend the lead further after another penalty was awarded to the Saints. Deon Carstens was the man signalled out as Brian Mujati turned the screw at the scrum.

The visitors continued to pile the pressure on their hosts. Neil de Kock attempted to clear his lines but was charged down by Calum Clark as a swarm of white shirts forced Saracens over their own line for a tricky five-meter scrum. Carstens was again penalised at the set-piece but rather than assert their dominance, Northampton opted for a kick at goal to stretch their lead to 3-9.

Despite being on the back foot, Saracens brought the game level. Saint’s flanker Tom Wood conceded a penalty for obstruction, which Hougaard slotted and then launched a huge drop-goal from 40-meters showing his ability.

Saracens began to gain control of the match around the field as the relentless character of coach Brendon Venter was optimised through his forwards who dominated at the breakdown with quick recycling and powerful phases.

Northampton conceded too many penalties around the fringes of the ruck and Pearson showed Calum Clark the yellow card – who was making his first start for Northampton. Hougaard again took his chance and a further penalty four minutes later gave his side a 15-9 advantage.

Saints coped well with a man disadvantage and it was they who went into the break with the last word - a fourth penalty of the match from Geraghty making it a three point game.

Saracens kicked off the second half with the introduction of the enigmatic Schalk Brits and immediately stretched their lead after a poor attempt by Northampton to gather the restart gave their opponents the opportunity to attack, and were caught offside in front of the posts. Hougaard’s kick from 10-meters his sixth score of the afternoon.

A dull second half saw Saracens enforce their authority on the game. Hougaard slotted another penalty as the pressure began to tell on the young Northampton side.

Geraghty kicked out on the full pinning his side back in their own 22 before the England hopeful was sin-binned for lying on the wrong side of the ruck giving Hougaard the simple task of slotting another kick for Saracens and his 24th point of the game.

With their first defeat of the season bearing down on them, the 14 Saints seemed revitalised and for a slip by centre Joe Ansbro or an extra pass by Dylan Hartley, they would have scored the first try of the game.

Saints continued to press and were close to scoring again. Soane Tonga’uiha - who came so close to moving south down the M1 himself last season - was just short of the line after a drive from five meters out. The play reverted back to a penalty against Saracens for coming in at the side, although Steve Borthwick was lucky to escape the bin himself for slowing the ball.

Saracens turned the Northampton scrum as temperatures came close to boiling over.

Much of the pre-match talk was centred around the volatile relationship between the two clubs, but good game management from Pearson and his linesmen kept a lid on the rivalry which has the potential to reach similar levels to the hatred between Leicester and Wasps in the coming years if these two sides continue to improve.

The losing bonus point was secured by Northampton in the final moments - Ashton’s replacement Paul Diggin finally breaching the Saracens defence – to make sure they only dropped one place to second, but Jim Mallinder will go back to Franklin’s Garden’s with the knowledge his side still have a lot of work to do.

Saracens

Penalties: Hougaard 7:

Drop-goals: Hougaard

Northampton

Tries: Diggin

Penalties: Geraghty 4