Sarries denied by Geraghty

A last-minute try from Shane Geraghty salvaged Northampton a 22-22 draw in the LV= Cup against Saracens at Vicarage Road.

Saints outscored their hosts by three tries to one but were made to pay for their indiscipline by Richard Wigglesworth, who took over kicking duties when Alex Goode withdrew before the kick-off.

Wigglesworth converted Justin Melck's second-half try and kicked five penalties, the last of which left the visitors five points adrift with 15 minutes left.

And Geraghty left it late to level the scores, darting off a scrum to cross on the right, although the England international was unable to clinch victory with the conversion.

It was Geraghty who made the first mark, steering over a fourth-minute penalty awarded for offside by referee Chris White from in front of the posts.

Momentum

Wigglesworth levelled shortly afterwards and with White's whistle dominating, Sarries edged ahead when the kicker made an ambitious kick from the halfway line look easy.

Geraghty missed a kickable opportunity to level shortly after, but the home side were gradually nudging Northampton onto the back foot, although it was difficult for either side to build momentum, so often were they halted by the referee.

The visitors took the lead after 28 minutes when loosehead prop Regardt Dreyer was driven over to the right of the posts, and Geraghty added the conversion.

In their next attack, Saracens were awarded another penalty, this time for a ruck offence, and Wigglesworth completed his hat-trick of successful kicks.

And when England wing David Strettle made a searing break at the heart of the defence, White decided he was halted illegally and Wigglesworth made it four from four.

Northampton hit back in style after 37 minutes when Geraghty's clever inside pass foxed the defence and left wing Paul Diggin dashed through the gap. Geraghty's conversion was spot-on.

The half ended as it began, with penalties. Wigglesworth's first attempt from wide on the right flew the wrong side of the near post and when hooker Brett Sharman was sin-binned for a ruck offence, the task looked easier.

Misses

But Wigglesworth, so deadly earlier, missed again, and he completed a hat-trick of misses straight after the interval, while at the other end Geraghty wasted good position by scuffing a drop-goal attempt.

Saracens swept upfield and laid siege, switching play from left to right and back before Melck smashed his way over by the left of the posts after 51 minutes, and Wigglesworth got back on track with the conversion.

The home side increased their lead after 64 minutes when Wigglesworth scored his fifth penalty after Northampton strayed offside in front of their posts.

Saints had the chance to hit back immediately, but Geraghty's penalty shot crashed back off the right-hand post and into the arms of lock Hayden Smith, who happily hoofed it clear of his 22.

Saracens launched two very promising attacks, but both broke down on sloppy individual mistakes, a fluffed pass by Kameli Ratuvou and an intercepted pass from Adam Powell, and it was left to Geraghty to have the last laugh.