Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Newcastle 5-66 Northampton
Northampton have consolidated their position at fourth place
©Steve Haag
Newcastle 5-66 Northampton, Kingston Park
Northampton Saints have boosted their play-off chances as they trounced Newcastle Falcons 66-5 in their final league game at Kingston Park on Friday.
The win meant Northampton now have 58 points from their 20 matches with only London Irish having games against Saracens and Exeter Chiefs are in with a chance to deny them a top four finish. Meanwhile, Newcastle finish the season at last position.
Newcastle made a strong start to the game as Adam Radwan dived to the corner after good work from Mateo Carreras but Brett Connon missed out on the conversion. Unfortunately for the Falcons, that remained their only points of the game as they failed to make a mark once again.
The response from Northampton came in the 7th minute as Alex Mitchell capitalised on a well timed back pass from Paul Hill followed by a terrific solo effect from Tom Collins, who completed the club's third try as they extended their lead to 5-14.
As the half-hour mark was approaching, George Furbank made a perfect offload for Collins, who completed his second try of the evening and the visitors scored their fifth try inside the opening half as Juarno Augustus dived from close range. Smith kicked both the conversions to perfection as Northampton went into the break with a 5-28 lead.
The Saints extended their momentum into the second half as Hill powered his way over and in the 52nd minute Carreras was sin-binned for a tackle on Lewis Ludlam at ruck with a Tommy Freeman's offload setting Smith over the line to extend the lead to 5-42.
With further tries from Mitchell and Sam Graham in the remainder of the third quarter, Northampton breached the 50 point tally and shortly Northampton put Freeman in the corner. As the game was approaching the closing stage, David Ribbans went past a couple of tackles to round off a fantastic win for the Saints as they remain in contention for a play-off spot.
Team line up:
Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Radwan, Moroni, Orlando, Carreras; B Connon, Young; Mulipola, Blamire, Tampin, Peterson, De Chaves, Rubiolo, Lockwood, Chick.
Reserves: Cade, Brocklebank, Kenny, Van Der Walt, Fearns, Stuart, Penny, Tait.
Northampton: Furbank; Collins, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman; F Smith, Mitchell; A Waller, S Matavesi, Hill, Ribbans, Moon, Lawes, Ludlam, Augustus.
Reserves: Cruse, E Waller, Prowse, Salakaia-Loto, Scott-Young, Graham, James, Litchfield.
