Northampton batter London Welsh to secure top spot in Aviva Premiership
Last Updated: 10/05/15 10:12am
Northampton clinched top spot in the Aviva Premiership with a 46-0 thrashing of hapless London Welsh at Franklin’s Gardens.
England pair Lee Dickson and Luther Burrell scored two tries apiece, with Ahsee Tuala and Jamie Elliott also touching down as the champions sealed a home semi-final with one game to spare.
Welsh held out for 13 minutes before the worst defence in the league was breached. A five-metre lineout drive was halted on the try-line before Dickson picked up and squirmed over.
The second try came from full-back Tuala on 27 minutes after great work from Ken Pisi. The Samoan winger caught a kick just inside his own half and weaved through the Welsh defence before offloading to Tuala, whose power took him over. Stephen Myler added the extras.
After defending for the first 30 minutes, London Welsh thought they had scored when Opeti Fonua took a tap penalty, but referee Andrew Small ruled it was from the wrong place.
Myler kicked penalties on either side of half-time before Dickson claimed his second try following a neat offload from Tuala and pass from Pisi.
Burrell dropped the ball with the line at his mercy but he made amends shortly afterwards, the England centre scoring from a pop pass by Myler.
The bonus point secured top spot and signalled Saints could empty their bench, but Burrell stayed on to hand-off Olly Barkley and score his second try, which James Wilson converted.
With Eddie Aholelei in the sin-bin and the five points secured, Northampton ended the game with a sweeping move that saw Elliott trot over in the left corner.