Goode puts the boot into Saints for Worcester

Andy Good kicked four penalties as Worcester Warriors beat Northampton Saints 12-3 in the Aviva Premiership on Friday night at Sixways Stadium.

Worcester and Northampton both came into this game at the wrong end of the table
taking only 5 points from the first month of the Aviva Premiership.

Despite an impressive record of only losing once at Sixways, the Saints started
the game looking like a team low on confidence.

Andy Goode’s ninth minute penalty gave the Warriors an early lead. Stephen Myler
continued his good early season kicking form to level the scores with a well-struck
40 metre penalty.

Warriors full-back Errie Claassens produced the best moment of the half when
he side-stepped several defenders to go within meters of the Saints try-line.

The Warriors led 6-3 at half-time after a Goode penalty was well converted just
after the half hour mark.

The Saints began the second half dreadfully, as they conceded 5 penalties in
the first 10 minutes.

Repeated infringements at the driving maul led to Saints tight-head Brian Mujati
being sent to the sin-bin.

A Goode penalty took the score to 9-3, although the home side would have been
slightly aggrieved not to make more of having the extra man.

Saints youngster Scott Armstrong was denied a fantastic score by a try-saving
Claassens tackle after the winger had beaten 2 defenders. That was a rare highlight
for the Saints side, as handling errors and a high penalty count restricted
any attacking opportunities.

Ryan Lamb came on for the Saints with 20 minutes to go, but was unable to make
a significant contribution missing a drop goal and penalty.

With just over 10 minutes left in the game, Referee David Rose yet again penalised
the Saints. Goode converted the penalty to make the score 12-3, which is how
it remained till the final whistle was blown.

It was scrappy game with no tries to speak of, one would expect as much, as
the two sides have only scored seven tries between them before this game.

It is a vital victory for the Warriors, whereas the Saints’ fourth straight
defeat leaves them stuttering near the bottom of the table.

Worcester Warriors scrum half Shaun Perry was awarded man of the match.

Final Score Worcester 12 (6 ) Northampton 3 (3)

Scorers

Worcester Warriors
Penalties: Goode 4

Northampton Saints
Penalties: Myler

Referee: David Rose (92nd Premiership game)

Teams

Worcester Warriors: 15 Errie Claassens, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Dale Rasmussen (c), 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Chris Jones, 7 Jake Abbott, 6 Neil Best, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 James Percival, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Ed Shervington, 1 Matt Mullan.

Replacements: 16 Ceri Jones, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19 Adam Balding, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Tom Arscott.

Northampton Saints:15 Greig Tonks, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Scott Armstrong, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Ben Nutley, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Paul Doran Jones.

Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 James Craig, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Tom May.