Saints lose unbeaten record
Northampton have lost their 100 per cent home record in the Guinness Premiership after going down 28-27 to Saracens.
Last Updated: 24/04/10 6:38pm
Shane Geraghty missed a late conversion as Northampton lost 28-27 to Saracens on Saturday - the Saints therefore also losing their 100 per cent home record in the Guinness Premiership.
Ben Foden handed Geraghty the chance to seal the win when he scored a late try but the fly-half, who was on the field as a replacement, could not convert.
As well as losing their unbeaten record at home, the result also means that Northampton failed to confirm a home semi-final in the playoffs.
Saracens, meanwhile, have ensured themselves a semi-final place - and a possible fifth meeting of the season with their rivals.
Northampton went ahead in the fifth minute when Stephen Myler, making his 100th appearance for the home side, curled in a fine penalty from wide on the left.
Spark
However, Sarries' response was swift as Rodd Penney found Ernst Joubert with a pass just a minute later - the captain ignoring the attentions of Chris Ashton to cross by the left wing flag.
Glen Jackson converted, with Mouritz Botha falling foul of referee Chris White in the 12th minute after the attempted interception of a Northampton pass inside his 22 instead resulted in a knock on.
Myler kicked the resulting penalty and did once more after Northampton's exploitation of a poor Saracens scrum resulted in territory and successive infringements.
The visitors were back in the lead after Jackson converted their first kickable penalty in the 23rd minute, Saints having been penalised for not moving clear of a breakdown after tackling.
Saints soon had the chance to respond after pinning their opponents inside their 22 once more but the resulting penalty, awarded after Saracens came in at the side, was this time missed by Myler.
The game really sparked when Saints were awarded a penalty try in the 33rd minute after Botha halted an attack on the right by tackling Ashton just before Bruce Reihana's pass had reached him.
Botha was sin-binned and with Myler converting, the fact that feelings were running high was reflected in Courtney Lawes' decision to hit Penney late.
The wing then responded by grabbing the flanker's ankle and toppling him.
Saracens reduced their arrears with another Jackson penalty almost straight from the re-start after Northampton had offended at the contact area.
The Saints then restored their six-point lead when Myler found the target after 45 minutes but Saracens were right back in it with a tremendous try just two minutes later.
A multi-phased passage of play in which Jacques Burger and Jackson played key roles ended with Adam Powell crossing on the left.
Motivated
Jackson, whose pass had put the centre through, then added the conversion but fired a penalty wide in the 52nd minute.
Even the Franklin's Gardens faithful could appreciate some of the breathtaking attacking play Sarries were putting together - the visitors' defence also proving mean close to their line.
However, their opponents were motivated by the defence of a 100 per cent home league record and it was they who struck next when Myler kicked his sixth successful effort.
Saints therefore edged 22-20 ahead but the lead changed hands for the seventh time after 63 minutes when an offside decision allowed Jackson the chance to kick another penalty.
The visitors were rewarded for their adventure after 70 minutes when a prolonged period of pressure ended with the ball being whipped left for Penney, who squeezed in by the flag.
Jackson's conversion-attempt went wide, however, and Saints set up the game's climax in the 78th minute when a succession of attacks resulted in a try for Foden.
