Slick Saints beat Prem Rugby Cup holders Leicester

Published3 hours ago

Northampton kept their hopes of reaching the Prem Rugby Cup semi-finals alive after a dominant 39-19 derby victory over East Midlands rivals Leicester.

A youthful Saints line-up turned on the style to sink the holders at Franklin's Gardens and stretch Northampton's run to 16 successive home wins in all competitions.

Wings Tom Rowe and Amena Caqusau and full-back James Martin all touched down twice in a seven-try romp for the Saints.

After three successive defeats in the Prem Rugby Cup, last season's winners Leicester are bottom of Pool B.

It was not a perfect evening for Northampton. Already without two injured scrum-halves in England international Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland, the Saints lost a third in the 29th minute in Jonny Weimann.

The 20-year-old, made captain for the evening, limped off after creating Northampton's first two tries, number one in the 11th minute with a glorious long pass to Martin and number two five minutes later with a cross-kick to Rowe.

But England Under-18s scrum-half Sonny Goode showed Northampton's remarkable depth in the position with an impressive showing off the bench.

After being steamrollered in a feisty Prem meeting at Mattioli Woods Welford Road a fortnight ago, this emphatic win provided a measure of revenge.

Saints led 27-7 at the break with Rowe, Caqusau and centre Toby Thame also crossing.

Caqusau produced a fine finish to secure the bonus point for Saints in the 36th minute and Rowe's second on the stroke of half-time gave Saints their 20-point interval advantage.

But Martin went over for his second from a cross-kick in the 46th minute and then Caqusau added his second after some fine approach play by Goode with Leicester wing Adam Radwan in the sin-bin.

Leicester, well beaten, managed three tries, two from hooker Sam Moli and one from back row Osian Thomas.

Sale Sharks went to the top of Pool A with a tense 21-19 win over Bristol Bears at the CorpAcq Stadium.

Two tries from Arron Reed - playing at full-back - and one from Alex Wills did the damage but Bristol took the game to the wire with two tries from Max Pepper after Totoa Auvaa, the Samoan hooker given a second chance by director of rugby Pat Lam following his sacking by Saracens for his off-field conduct, had opened their account.

Sam Worsley had a chance to win it for the Bears four minutes from time but was short with a long-range penalty attempt.

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