Saints scrape past Italians

Northampton Saints escaped with a 21-18 victory in Treviso to remain on course to progress from Pool One of the Heineken Cup.

The Saints scored three tries through Phil Dowson, Jon Clarke and Courtney Lawes but were never able to pull away from their spirited hosts.

They were fortunate that Marius Goosen missed three penalties in the first half for Treviso, whose forwards controlled the action for long periods.

On two occasions the Italian side responded to double-digit deficits in the second half with a try but, despite the late sin binning of Saints flanker Neil Best, they fell just short.

Delayed

The groundstaff at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo worked hard to get the match on, clearing three inches of snow from the covers protecting the playing surface to allow kick off to take place 75 minutes later than originally scheduled.

Northampton fly-half Stephen Myler missed the chance to open the scoring in the eighth minute, slicing his penalty attempt wide after Treviso prop Michele Rizzo had gone over the top of a ruck.

Goosen was also off target two penalty chances for the hosts in the opening 20 minutes, a long-range effort had the legs but drifted left on the wind and bounced out off the upright, while a more difficult kick from the touchline was scuffed well wide.

Treviso's forwards were in control of the breakdown area and finally had something to show for that dominance after 23 minutes. Goosen slotted a simple penalty for a 3-0 lead after Saints skipper Dylan Hartley had been pulled up for hands in the ruck.

Both kickers were finding life difficult, Goosen missing again from the touchline and Myler failing to land an easier three-point chance just after the half hour.

Northampton enjoyed their first sustained period of territory just before half-time and were rewarded with the opening try.

Flanker Dowson, lurking wide on the left, collected Myler's expertly flighted cross-field kick and managed to touch down under pressure. Myler added the conversion to take the Saints into the break with a 7-3 advantage.

The Saints should have scored again in the second minute of the second half when the ball was spun left through the back division to full-back Ben Foden, who rounded his man but then dropped the ball in the process of attempting to ground it with one hand.

But Northampton did not have to wait long to atone for Foden's error as they were in again in the 45th minute, this time Clarke touching down after straightening the angle to take fellow centre James Downey's short pass.

Myler's conversion extended the lead to 14-3 but Treviso immediately battled their way back into the contest.

The Italian team's forwards reasserted some control in the tight and, when the ball was finally moved wide, winger Mulieri won a foot race to ground a grubber in the right corner.

The conversion was missed but Northampton's lead was down to just three points at 14-11 on 55 minutes when they infringed at a ruck and Treviso replacement Tobias Botes slammed the resulting penalty between the posts.

Reinforcements

England internationals Lawes and Shane Geraghty came off the bench to bolster the wobbling Saints ahead of the final quarter.

Treviso continued to force the pace until a moment of brilliance from Chris Ashton in the 68th minute.

The winger collected a pinpoint kick on the right flank and set off on a mazy run, dancing away from a couple of would-be tacklers before off-loading to Lawes for a simple finish.

Geraghty booted the conversion to put Saints 10-points clear but again they allowed Treviso to hit straight back.

Defending on their own try-line, Northampton flanker Neil Best was shown a yellow card for flying into a ruck after the whistle, leaving his side to play the final eight minutes with 14 men.

Northampton infringed again at the next ruck and referee Peter Fitzgibbon awarded Treviso a penalty try.

Botes' conversion reduced the home side's deficit to 21-18 and set up a thrilling climax.

Northampton, however, stood firm to come away with a hard-fought triumph.