Rei of light for Saints

Bruce Reihana kicked an 89th-minute conversion to give Northampton the points.

Northampton 25-23 London Irish

Guinness Premiership, Franklin's Gardens, Saturday October 15, KO 15.00pm

Bruce Reihana produced a magnificent solo performance to inspire a last-gasp 25-23 victory over London Irish.

Saints spent the majority of the game behind, but Reihana released Ben Cohen to steal in for a try deep into injury time, and then the New Zealander kept his focus to land the crucial conversion from the touchline.

The late sucker blow will be particularly difficult to take for the Exiles, who looked to have done enough after tries from Riki Flutey and Dominic Feaunati.

Both players scored long range efforts to cancel out the first of two tries from Reihana.

The attacking trio of Carlos Spencer, Cohen and Reihana is clicking more effectively with every game, and it was that combination that opened the scoring as Cohen released the full back to score under the posts.

A second score looked on moments later but Spencer's attempted pass to Reihana was intercepted by Flutey who raced away from inside his own half.

The dose was doubled not long after, with Feaunati capitalising on some scruffy play from Northampton around the ruck, and nobody was going to catch the flying winger as he raced to he line.

Budge Pountney's men were forced to become more deliberate in their approach work, and the new approach paid dividends on the half-hour mark.

Spencer slipped the ball inside to John Clarke, who surged powerfully towards the Irish whitewash - only to be hauled down just metres short.

However, Reihana was on hand to collect the recycled ball, and he produced a clever dummy to touch down for his second score.

A further penalty took the hosts to within two points of their opposition, who seemed to go into their shell under the pressure.

More of the same followed in the second half as Northampton attempted to gain a stranglehold on proceedings, but the elusive score would not come.

Sean Lamont, in particular, proved to be a driving force but it was the visitors who found more points.

Flutey took the opportunity to increase the lead to five, but one suspected that it would not be enough as Saints kept fighting.

Lamont was getting closer and closer, being dragged down just short of the line.

The clock continued to tick down, and Irish looked as though they had done enough before a Flutey late tackle gave the hosts one more chance.

Reihana took a quick tap before allowing the in-form Cohen to waltz through the visitors' defence to level the scores.

Only the final act of the conversion was left.

Franklin's Gardens stood still, Reihana drew breath, then drew back his right boot to guide over the clinching kick for a delighted Northampton side.

Northampton: (18) 25
Tries: Reihana 2, Cohen
Cons: Reihana 2
Pens: Reihana 2

London Irish: (20) 23
Tries: Flutey, Feaunati
Cons: Flutey 2
Pens: Flutey 3