Saracens edge past Northampton Saints to reach Aviva Premiership final
Last Updated: 23/05/15 10:37pm
Saracens are through to the Aviva Premiership final after a thrilling but hard-fought 29-24 victory over defending champions Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens.
Tries from David Strettle and Jamie George were enough to get the visitors over the line, with an Owen Farrell penalty three minutes from time sealing the win despite late Saints pressure.
Northampton were right in the game throughout, with Tom Wood’s second-half try added to a penalty try awarded in the first period which saw Mako Vunipola yellow carded.
A Stephen Myler kick in the final minute meant that the result was in the balance until the very last but Mark McCall’s men held on to secure their place at Twickenham next weekend.
Farrell lost his England place to Bath's George Ford during the Six Nations due to injury but tallied 19 points to provide a timely reminder of his metronomic goal-kicking to lead his side to a second successive Premiership final.
In a full-blooded start Saracens – who finished fourth in the table, eight points adrift of Northampton – took a third-minute lead through Strettle's try.
Northampton have built their success this season upon the foundations laid by their dominant forward pack and, boosted by the return of England duo Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes, they levelled in the 14th minute through a penalty try.
Farrell and Myler traded two penalty goals apiece as half-time arrived with the evenly-matched sides – who contested last season's final – locked at 13-13.
A Myler penalty gave Saints their first lead of the match in the 45th minute but within three minutes George drove over from close range to regain the lead for the visitors.
Farrell's conversion and a penalty handed his side a seven-point lead midway through the half before England flanker Tom Wood pulled a try back to cut the gap to two points.
Farrell, though, landed two further penalties to put the game beyond Northampton, meaning Myler's late penalty was in vain.
