Mallinder wants win at Quins to kickstart Saints' season

Jim Mallinder is hoping Saints' win at Quins can be a catalyst (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

And the director of rugby has called on his players to back up the 27-23 success when London Irish come to Franklin’s Gardens this weekend.

Saints produced an impressive performance at The Stoop, but looked to be heading to defeat when Ben Botica’s penalty put Quins 23-20 up.

Botica had the chance to end the game, but the replacement fly-half fluffed his attempted kick into the stands, giving Ben Foden the chance to gather.

The Saints full-back then started and finished the move that inspired wild celebrations in the away camp as Mallinder’s men revelled in a crucial Aviva Premiership win.

It drags them back to seven points behind fourth-placed Quins ahead of this week’s clash with Irish.

And Mallinder said: “I’m hoping it will really kick-start us now.

“Quins are a good side and they’re not going to stop being a good side. They can move the ball.

“They’ve got a number of players away like we have and they’ll be hurting after losing.

“It’s going to be tight, there’s no easy games, we know that.

“But we’ve got that win and hopefully we can back that up in the next few weeks.”