Saints edge into Euro final
Stephen Myler's late drop goal took Northampton to their first European Challenge Cup final.
Last Updated: 01/05/09 10:56pm
Stephen Myler's drop goal five minutes from time took Northampton to their first European Challenge Cup final with a 16-13 victory over Saracens on Friday.
The scores were level at 13-13 in a tensely-fought semi-final when Myler's pinpoint strike put Saints into the final against either Worcester or French side Bourgoin, who face off on Saturday.
Northampton had opened up a 13-3 half-time lead courtesy of a try from skipper Bruce Reihana and two penalties and a conversion from Myler.
But Saracens hit back in the second-half to draw level with winger Rod Penney going over and Guinness Premiership leading points scorer Glen Jackson adding a penalty and a conversion to his first-half penalty.
Bad blood
It was a fiery start at Franklin's Gardens before Jackson kicked Saracens ahead with a fourth-minute penalty from close range but Myler equalised three minutes later.
Former league player Myler kicked Northampton ahead in the 13th minute after their scrum forced the back-pedalling Saracens pack to concede a penalty just inside their own half.
Captains Steve Borthwick and Reihana had been given a general warning by the referee after just 44 seconds and when the rival packs clashed again after a scrum collapsed in the 29th minute the French official despatched both hookers, Dylan Hartley and Saracens' Fabio Ongaro, to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
Saracens found themselves on the back foot in the aftermath and the Saints made their advantage tell when winger Paul Diggin and centre Jon Clarke combined before Clarke's long pass sent the unmarked Reihana over in the left corner. Myler added the conversion and the hosts went in to the break with a 10-point lead.
Late drama
Having seen Diggin's score ruled out for being touched down on the dead ball line on the stroke of half-time, Saracens came out fighting and Jackson's second penalty reduced the deficit to seven points in the 51st minute.
Former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell came on for the final match of his illustrious dual-code career before heading into retirement as Saracens proved themselves much more of a threat in the second-half.
The home side's defensive resilience finally cracked in the 73rd minute when Saracens centre Adam Powell sent Penney in down the right and Jackson converted to level the scores.
But, with the match seemingly heading for extra-time, Saints came again to set up the chance for Myler to land his coolly-taken winning drop goal from nearly 40 metres out in the 75th minute and they maintained the pressure to deny Saracens any chance to retaliate.
