Away day success for Saints
Northampton gained their first away win in the Guinness Premiership for over two years with a 22-12 result at Worcester.
Last Updated: 07/03/09 8:14pm
Northampton gained their first away win in the Guinness Premiership for over two years with a 22-12 result at Worcester.
The success at Sixways saw the Saints climb into eighth place above reigning Premiership champions Wasps while the Warriors remain 12 points above bottom club Bristol.
Fly-half Barry Everitt, recalled in place of Stephen Myler, bossed the game from the outset and first-half tries by flanker Scott Gray and wing Paul Diggin put the visitors firmly in control.
Everitt gave Saints the lead with a third-minute penalty but Willie Walker replied to equal the scores during a rare Worcester excursion outside their own half.
Superb work
But when some superb work by centre James Downey made good headway,the supporting Gray powered over for the first try.
A spell of sustained pressure by the hosts saw skipper Pat Sanderson sacrifice two kickable penalty chances for attacking scrums.
However, the risk provided no reward for the Warriors and, after resolutely dismissing the threat, Northampton struck back in spectacular fashion.
Scrum-half Lee Dickson provided the link-up for Diggin to sprint in from 60 metres after Everitt started the move from under his own posts.
Healthy cushion
Everitt added the extras to take his side into the break with a 12-point lead at 15-3.
Walker cut the Saints' advantage to six points during the third quarter, firing two-out-of-three penalty attempts home.
A fourth from his reliable boot piled more pressure on Saints, who by now were down to 14 men following Gray's yellow card.
But when Substitute centre Joe Ansbro went in for Northampton's third try late in the game, which Everitt converted, there was no way back for Worcester.
