Saints stunned by Scarlets
Northampton suffered a second straight Heineken Cup defeat as the Scarlets claimed a classy 28-23 victory at Franklin's Gardens
By Alex Williams - Twitter: @skysportsalexw
Last Updated: 18/11/11 10:33pm
Northampton suffered a second straight Heineken Cup defeat as the Scarlets claimed a classy 28-23 victory in their Pool One clash at Franklin's Gardens.
Liam Williams, Aaron Shingler and Matt Gilbert all scored first-half tries and Rhys Priestland grabbed another after the break as the Welsh outfit ensured they headed home with a bonus-point win.
Wales fly-half Priestland also kicked four conversions in a virtuoso display, with his boot causing the Saints no end of problems throughout the match.
George Pisi and Tom Wood touched down as last year's beaten finalists also secured a bonus point in defeat, but that will be of little consolation to director of rugby Jim Mallinder, who was this week linked with the England job.
Barely two minutes were on the clock when the visitors took the lead as scrum-half Gareth Davies made the break before feeding scruffily to Williams, who nevertheless kicked ahead and grounded the ball.
Pressure
Priestland added the conversion and the Scarlets continued to pile on the pressure throughout the early stages, with a knock on from Davies halting another promising move.
The Saints weathered the storm and got on the board when the Scarlets were penalised at the breakdown and Ryan Lamb slotted over a simple penalty.
However the Welsh outfit struck again straight from the restart as Shingler picked up a loose ball, which the home crowd felt had been knocked on, and scored in the corner with Priestland adding the extras.
Lamb knocked over another penalty in the 23rd minute but it was the Scarlets who continued to come forward as the match approached the half-hour mark.
The hosts did come into their own towards the end of the half and a Lamb penalty after a scuffle at a lineout cut the gap to five.
But one more lapse at the back would cost them dear as full-back Pisi spilled a high kick from Priestland and the away side pounced, with Gilbert eventually crossing for the try, which Priestland converted to make it 21-9 at the interval.
Kicks
Northampton needed a fast start to the second half but were instead forced to soak up more pressure in the opening stages, with Priestland continuing to test the Saints' back three with booming kicks.
The hosts were finally given a boost when flanker Jonathan Edwards was sent to the sin bin for deliberately disturbing the ball in a ruck, but Lamb hit the upright with the resulting penalty.
And moments later the contest was effectively killed off as a knock on from Chris Ashton was kicked ahead by Priestland and then a rampaging George North, with the former touching down to complete an incredible break.
Pisi managed to power his way over the try-line in the 68th minute to give Northampton a faint glimmer of hope, but the deficit proved far too much to overcome.
The match did end on a slightly concerning note for the Scarlets, however, as North hobbled off after being manhandled in a ruck by Ashton and Wood scored a breakaway try under the posts.
