Racing Metro deny Saints a losing bonus point

Racing Metro scored a late try to deny Northampton Saints a losing bonus point in their 20-11 Champions Cup victory over the English side on Saturday.

Northampton Saints were trailing by two points when Ben Foden’s kick was charged down and Marc Andreu scored a last gasp try which was converted by Johan Goosen.

Before Andreu’s try Northampton looked to have snatched a draw with four minutes
remaining when Phil Dowson touched down in the corner.

However Steven Myler sliced his conversion and then Foden’s kick was charged
down.

Jim Mallinder’s frustration will have been deepened by the fact Saints failed
to capitalise on two yellow cards for Racing during the second half, particularly
when George Pisi fumbled the ball five yards from the try line.

Jonathan Sexton kicked two penalties, a conversion and had a hand in Racing’s
opening try to get their European campaign off to a perfect start.

Sexton pinned Saints back deep in their own half with a well-struck kick to
the corner. Saints lost the line-out and having shifted the ball out wide centre
Alexandre Dumoulin was bundled over for the French.

Stephen Myler responded for Saints though a second Sexton penalty three minutes
before half-time regained Racing’s seven-point lead at half-time.

Saints started well at the beginning of the second period and Myler again
reduced the deficit with a penalty.

The visitors had a fortunate escape when Salesi Ma’afu was only penalised
and not carded for a heavy challenge Juandre Kruger at the edge of a ruck. Sexton
then stepped up and missed the resulting penalty.

Referee George Clancy’s patience finally ran out at the scrum and Julien Brugnaut
was sent to the bin.

However Northampton failed to capitalise when Pisi intercepted and raced clear
only to drop the ball before damaging his hamstring in his attempts to recover.

A second Sexton penalty looked to have secured the win for Racing until Brian
Mujati was shown a yellow card six minutes from time. Saints took full advantage
to send replacement Dowson over in the corner for a try that could secured a
late comeback.

But when Myler, one of the most reliable kickers in the Aviva Premiership,
missed the conversion and Racing smothered their attempts to run wide from deep
in their own territory and Andreu profited with Goosen adding the conversion.

Final Score Racing Metro 20 (10) Northampton 11 (3)

Scorers

Racing Metro
Tries – Van der Merwe, Andreu
Pen – Sexton 2
Con – Sexton, Goosen
Drop –
Cards –

Northampton Saints
Tries – Dowson Pens:
Pen – Myler 2
Con –
Drop –
Cards –

Match Official
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Teams

Racing Metro: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Alexandre Dumoulin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Antoine Claassen, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Francois van der Merwe (c), 4 Juandre Kruger, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Virgile Lacombe, 1 Julien Brugnaut

Replacements: 16 Jeremie Maurouard, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Camille Gerondeau, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Yoan Audri

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Samu Manoa, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 1 Alex Waller

Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Ga