Aviva Premiership: London Irish 25-23 Northampton Saints
By Louise Warr
Last Updated: 26/12/15 4:52pm
London Irish secured their first points of the season with a 25-23 win over Northampton Saints.
First-half tries from Luke Narraway and Shaun Maitland gave London Irish a 15-8 half-time lead, before a penalty try two minutes from time and a conversion from Shane Geraghty gifted the Exiles with a late victory.
Northampton Saints rediscovered their try-scoring form through scores from Ken Pisi, George North and Khan Foutali'i but it proved to be their ever-potent weapon of the scrum that became their downfall as they slipped to defeat.
Narraway put the Exiles in front after ten minutes when he capitalised on a catch and drive to score his first premiership try in four years.
Myler avenged for his earlier miss with three points in front of the posts before Chris Noakes cancelled out his opposite number's attempt from moments before.
London Irish's fine first half continued when a strong carry from Maitland took his side up to the Saints 10 metre line before the Scotland man took advantage of a huge overlap on the right to walk over for his side's second try of the match.
Northampton hit back shortly before the break scoring their first try in four hours of rugby, when a lovely delayed pass from George Pisi sent his brother Ken over in the corner, giving London Irish a 15-8 half-time lead.
Shortly after the break, a well-executed box kick from Foutali'I sent North over before a powerful scrum from London Irish gave Brendon McKibbon the chance to extend his side's lead with a long range effort.
Myler kicked another three for the Saints shortly after the break, before his side's third try came moments into the final quarter when JJ Hanrahan got in behind the Irish defence giving Foutali'I the room to bundle over, sending his side into the lead for the first time.
Irish's woes continued when winger Asaeli Tikoirotuma was shown yellow for a dangerous tackle on Ben Foden.
The home side weathered the sin-bin period well and with Tikoirotuma back on the field a series of penalties were kicked into the corner by London Irish; Northampton Saints' Jamie Gibson the man who paid for the misdemeanours when he was sent to the sin bin.
London Irish's persistence was rewarded on 78 minutes when they were awarded the match-winning penalty try as a strong forward effort forced Northampton Saints to collapse a scrum five metres from their own line.
Geraghty kept his cool to add the extras giving the Madjeski something to celebrate and giving London Irish their first win of the season.
