Northampton 30-22 Harlequins: Saints go top with win

George North breaks clear for Saints

Northampton produced an excellent performance to beat Harlequins 30-22 and go top of the Aviva Premiership on Saturday. 

George North, Tom Collins and Mickey Haywood tries helped put Saints 19-15 up at the break, with Aaron Morris and Jamie Roberts responding for Quins.

Saints dominated the opening exchanges yet found themselves trailing 7-5 after Luther Burrell flung an ill-advised long pass straight into the arms of Aaron Morris, who skipped to his left and easily won the 60-yard dash to the line.

North's power had given Saints the lead after the Wales wing burst through tackles from Jack Clifford and Danny Care to force his way over with help from the Groom's driving legs.

It was only a matter of time before Quins cracked again, however, due to the pressure they were under and it was poor defending that enabled Tom Collins to take an inside pass from Harry Mallinder and plot an arcing line over the whitewash.

North and flanker Jamie Gibson were having strong games, but Northampton's momentum was being halted by handling errors at key times.

But just as Quins seemed to be forcing their way back into contention, a Marcus Smith penalty rewarding them on the scoreboard, Saints struck through a terrific try that started when full-back Ahsee Tuala counter-attacked.

Tom Collins breaks clear to score Northampton's second try

The ball passed with precision and expert timing through the hands of Teimana Harrison, Nic Groom, Tuala once more and Courtney Lawes before Mikey Haywood finished the move under the posts.

For all their injuries, Quins were showing impressive determination and they pounced deep into first half injury time when Jamie Roberts pierced a ragged defence, taking his chance well.

That good work was wasted shortly after the interval when Groom's cross-field kick was gathered by Tuala, who capitalised on weak defending on Yarde's wing to cross in the corner.

Quins prop Kyle Sinckler could face disciplinary action following an accusation of gouging. Michael Paterson made the claim immediately after a 49th-minute incident at Franklin's Gardens in which the Saints second-row was tackled by Sinckler and replays showed his rival's hand make contact with his face.

Replays were inconclusive and but Sinckler was penalised for removing Paterson's scrum cap, adding that the matter might interest the citing officer.

Mallinder was able to kick the penalty and then complete a try-saving tackle on Yarde who had presented with a great chance by the ingenuity of Marcus Smith.

Dave Ward burrowed over to keep the result in doubt until Stephen Myler landed a 78th-minute penalty to sweep Northampton over the line.