Late Ashton try stuns Irish

Northampton leapfrogged over London Irish into second place in the Guinness Premiership with a dramatic 24-22 victory at Franklin's Gardens.

Chris Ashton's try in the final minute, crucially converted by Barry Geraghty, ensured the hosts came away with the lion's share of the points on a cold afternoon in the Midlands.

Stephen Myler opened the scoring in the eighth minute when the Exiles were caught offside, although it wasn't long before Chris Malone levelled with the simplest of tasks.

The opening quarter was dominated by aerial exchanges with neither side able to gain a foothold, and it was 25 minutes before Malone was able to add to the scoring with a precise kick from wide on the right.

He scored his third within minutes when the hosts were penalised for not releasing, but after Steffon Armitage was given a stern talking-to for killing the ball on the Irish line, Myler narrowed the deficit from the resulting penalty.

The Exiles ended the half as they began it - on the offensive - without being able to find a way through, and they went into the break with just a three-point lead.

First try

That all changed within minutes of the restart though, with Saints forcing the visitors on to the back foot thanks to Myler's kick for touch after he turned down an attempt at goal.

Dylan Hartley's throw set up a drive with flanker Phil Dowson shunted over for the first try of the game.

Myler's conversion flew wide but it mattered little as Saints continued to look the better side in the second period.

Ashton was brought down by John Rudd in one promising attack but they poured forward, again going for touch after a maul was brought down, but following numerous phases the Exiles stunned the crowd with a breakaway score.

A pass meant for Ashton down the right flank was gratefully accepted by Peter Hewat, who dashed all the way home from inside his 22 to score, with Malone adding the extras.

The lead was increased within five minutes when Northampton were caught offside again, Malone once again splitting the uprights to give his side a 19-11 advantage.

Myler and Malone traded scores as the game moved into the final quarter, the latter dropping a goal after several failed attempts earlier in the game, but Myler's replacement Geraghty missed his first attempt at goal to leave the hosts still eight points adrift.

However, a harshly awarded penalty for a high tackle gave Geraghty the chance to make amends before Ashton took centre stage with the final move of the match, diving between the posts to level the scores.

Geraghty coolly slotted the conversion that takes Saints into second place, just a point behind table-topping Saracens.