Saints’ brave fightback fails to reel in Wasps

NORTHAMPTON staged the kind of second-half comeback at Wasps yesterday that their Heineken Cup opponents Munster could have done with in the RDS, but still came up short, losing 20-15.

The Saints will take heart from their recovery from 17-3 down ahead of Saturday’s home clash with the Magners League champions – who were dismantled 30-0 by their provincial rivals Leinster on Saturday night – but it was good enough only for a losing bonus point.

Wasps raced into a 17-3 half-time lead today thanks to Danny Cipriani’s try and four Dave Walder penalties.

Northampton chipped away at their deficit after the break through Shane Geraghty’s four penalties.

Walder’s drop-goal allowed Wasps to keep their noses in front but Bruce Reihana’s injury-time penalty earned a bonus point for Saints.

Nonetheless, director of rugby Jim Mallinder lamented the fact his side were so slow out of the blocks.

“It was the first 40 minutes where we lost the game,” he said. “Our set-piece was poor, we didn’t look after the ball and we gave far too many penalties away. When that happens and you go in 17-3 down, you are always going to struggle.

“We improved in the second half and that’s what we have to take positives from.”

Saracens replaced London Irish – who meet Leinster in what is shaping up to be a mouth-watering Friday night showdown at the RDS – at the top of the Guinness Premiership, winning 22-15 against Newcastle at Kingston Park to make it five wins from five under Brendan Venter.

Harlequins head coach John Kingston hailed his players’ spirit after watching them snatch a dramatic 13-11 win over Bath in the 13th minute of injury-time of the so-called ‘game of shame’.

England number eight Nick Easter finally penetrated Bath’s defiant defence to spark scenes more common when someone has lifted a trophy. The success may prove a watershed for Quins, as it is their first win since the summer’s Bloodgate saga, but for Bath – who were rocked by a series of drug scandals – it was their third defeat in five games.

Kingston said: “I was obviously worried. The biggest emotion however is admiration for the great fighting spirit this group has.”

Mike Tindall created one try and scored another as Gloucester ended a run of three losses and condemned bottom club Leeds to a fourth successive defeat, on a 26-10 scoreline.

Six late points from the boot of Irishman Jeremy Staunton helped Leicester to a narrow 19-14 win over Worcester.

Biarritz continued their revival in the Top 14 on Saturday, storming past defending champions Perpignan by 27-12 to go third in the table.

Castres’ good start continued as they edged Toulon 21-19.

Elsewhere, Clermont breezed to a bonus-point win over Bayonne, Toulouse failed to get a bonus point in Montpellier despite a blistering start and Racing Metro laboured to a 17-12 win over Montauban.

Bourgoin set Albi well adrift at the bottom with a 26-16 win.