Picture special: Myler kicks Saints to victory
Northampton Saints 20 Saracens 15
Stephen Myler kicked 15 points to keep Northampton Saints' near two-year unbeaten home record in tact.
The visitors were the better side in the first half, but only had three penalties from Glenn Jackson to show for their dominance. But Saints score a try right on the whistle to keep themselves in the game and upped their game to deservedly win.
Saracens almost scored the opening try through Noah Cato after carving Saints open on halfway, but Paul Diggin hauled him down 5m short. A penalty was the result and Glenn Jackson popped it over for a 3-0 lead after six minutes.
It was a confident start from Saracens and when Bruce Reihana ran down a cul-de-sac, he was pinged for holding on and Jackson made it 6-0 from 25m.
From Saints' first bit of decent play they won a penalty 30m out and Myler slotted it over to make it 6-3 after 16 minutes.
Wikus van Heerden burst 15m off another solid Sarries scrum and Saints were penalised for not rolling away. Jackson slotted it over 10m in from the touchline to restore the visitors six-point lead.
Brett Sharman thought he had scored his maiden try when he picked up a loose ball on the try-line, but Justin Marshall's pass had hit referee Greg Garner, who called for a scrum instead.
Off another solid scrum Alex Goode was about to trot over from 10m for a try, but referee Garner had spotted some crossing.
Totally against the run of play Saints scored a try when Myler decided not to kick out of his 22 and sped upfield. Foden brilliantly scooped up Myler's pass off the floor and he was back on the end of the line to send Reihana over in the corner. Myler missed the conversion on the whistle to leave Saracens one point in front.
A poor Justin Marshall kick allowed Saints into Sarries half and Cencus Johnston was on the wrong side of a ruck to give away a penalty and Myler put it away to move the home side 11-9 in front three minutes into the second half.
Neil Best hammered into Andy Farrell to earn Saints another penalty 45m in front of the posts, which Myler put wide.
Saints looked a lot more up for it and Lee Dickson was denied a try with some Saints offside as they powered over.
More Saints pressure saw them win a penalty right in front of the posts and Myler converted it to make it 14-9 with 16 minutes to go.
Jackson hit back with a penalty two minutes later, but Saracens were caught offside three minutes later and Myler slotted it over from 40-odd metres to make it 17-12.
Reihana then returned a kick with a 40m run that earned a penalty and Myler landed it from 35m to move Saints eight points clear.
Jackson knocked over a drop goal to grab a bonus point for Saracens, but Saints' unbeaten home run now stretches to 30 games.
Att: 13,153
Saints: Foden, Diggin, Clarke, Downey, Reihana, Myler, Dickson, Tonga'uiha, Sharman (Shields, 66mins), Stewart (Smith, 64mins), Lobbe, Kruger (Day, 78mins), Easter (Lawes, 76mins), Best, Wilson.
Replacements: Shields, Smith, Day, Lawes, Dickens, Everitt, Mayor
Saracens: Goode, Haughton, Sorrell (Powell, 28mins), Farrell (Barritt, 74mins), Cato, Jackson, Marsahll, Lloyd, Cairns, Johnston (Visagie, 71mins), Vyvyan, Ryder (Chesney, 64mins), van Heerden, Saull, Skirving (Barrell, 71mins)
Replacements: Kyriacou, Visagie, Chesney, Barrell, Wilson, Basrritt, Powell
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Friday 10 February 2012
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