Ashton stars in Saints win

Northampton wing Chris Ashton scored a hat-trick of tries as Saints secured a fourth straight win in all competitions.

The 6,522 strong crowd, Newcastle's best of the season to date, were on their feet during the opening exchanges as Ashton's loose tap-back from a Shane Geraghty chip put the Saints in trouble.

Jimmy Gopperth was first to the ball and he hacked ahead but Ashton recovered well to beat Falcons centre Tane Tu'ipulotu as the ball rolled into the in-goal area.

Ashton quickly showed his finishing ability at the other end in the seventh minute, as the Falcons were caught napping when Northampton took a quick tap in front of the sticks and Geraghty's floated pass put the winger over, although the fly-half failed with the tough conversion.

Gopperth got the Falcons on the board with a 15th minute penalty, but Geraghty, looking to bounce back after losing his place in the England side, replied in kind seconds later when the hosts came in from the side at a ruck having ceded possession at the restart.

Gopperth then missed a chance to knock over a second penalty when he dragged a 40 yard effort wide after Saints were caught offside.

Despite that miss the Falcons were enjoying a period of territorial dominance, and the breakthrough finally came after the hosts had turned down the chance to go for goal on three occasions as they sought a try.

Charlie Amesbury entered the line from deep off Gopperth's pass and a lovely line of running from James Hudson saw the second row offload to put Biggs over in the corner. Gopperth hit the post with the conversion after slipping as he struck the ball to leave the score 8-8 at the break.

Gift

Shortly after the re-start Falcons scrum-half Micky Young's fierce pass flew over the head of Amesbury to gift the visitors a five metre scrum.

The Falcons were made to pay for that error when, after several phases, prop Soane Tonga'uiha offloaded to allow Ashton to sprint over for his second try of the evening after 50 minutes, converted by Geraghty.

Geraghty had a chance to extend the lead shortly afterwards but struck the ball poorly and his penalty attempt sailed wide, but the 23-year-old made amends when the Saints scrum forced a penalty after a powerful surge close to the Newcastle line.

The power of the Saints pack was stifling Newcastle, with the rolling maul proving a particularly effective weapon, as the visitors dominated territory and possession and Geraghty added his third penalty to extend the lead to 21-8 in the 67th minute.

A miserable second half for Newcastle was then compunded as Young was sretchered off after prolonged treatment in the final minute, and when play restarted Geraghty's cross-kick gave Ashton the simplest of finishes to complete his treble, Geraghty landing the touchline conversion with the last kick of the match.