Saints down the Warriors at Sixways

Northampton Saints came out 12-22 victors in a tough encounter against the Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday.

The Warriors were boosted by the return of veterans Chris Latham and Dale Rasmussen, but they failed to cross the line, while the Saints were able to run in three five-pointers.

Barry Everitt got the visitors off to a fast start with a penalty in the fourth minute, but the boot of Willie Walker made matters level ten minutes later.

Flanker Scott Gray got the first try of the match in the 19th minute and then try-scoring machine Paul Diggin added another on the half hour.

Coupled with an Everitt conversion, that took the score to 3-15 at halftime.

After the break the home side pulled it back to within six points as two more Walker penalties made it 12-15. With ten minutes to go it was anyone’s game and things turned sour for first-half try-scorer Gray who was given ten minutes in the sin bin.

However, the Warriors failed to capitalise on having an extra man and the Saints were fortunate enough to crash over for a third try via substitute Joe Ansbro.

Final Score Worcester 12 Northampton 22

Scorers

Worcester
Pen: Walker (4)

Northampton
Tries: Gray, Diggin, Ansbro.
Con: Everitt (2).
Pen: Everitt

Teams

Worcester: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Alex Grove, 11 Marcel Garvey, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Matt Powell, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Netani Talei, 5 Will Bowley, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Matt Mullan.

Replacements: 16 Darren Morris, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Graham Kitchener, 19 James Collins, 20 Ryan Powell, 21 Joe Carlisle, 22 Miles Benjamin.

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Bruce Reihana (capt), 10 Barry Everitt, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Scott Gray, 6 Neil Best, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Tom Smith.