Newcastle Falcons 16 - 22 Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints continued their winning run as full back James Wilson scored two first half tries against Newcastle Falcons in their Aviva Premiership clash at Kingston Park.

Wilson's double strike saw the Saints lead 19-6 at half-time, by which time Newcastle had hardly threatened.

A spirited second-half display from the Falcons saw them snatch a late losing bonus point with a Noah Cato try two minutes from time, while the Saints could only add a Stephen Myler penalty to their score.

Northampton's opening try came in the seventh minute from a quick free kick by scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i, and Wilson crossed in the corner for 5-0 with the Falcons defence going missing.

Rory Clegg cut the deficit to 5-3 with a 10th-minute penalty but Northampton were on top and Tom Stephenson made that advantage count with a 16th-minute run-in under the posts leaving Myler with an easy conversion for 12-3.

Clegg chipped away with a 20^th minute penalty after good work by prop Gary Strain over the ball at the tackle.

Clegg could have added to the Falcons score but his penalty was off target.

Wilson's second try came when Fotuali'i and Myler combined with George Pisi who teed up Wilson to cross the whitewash.

Myler added the wind assisted conversion as Northampton headed into the break leading 19-6.

With Dean Richards words ringing in their ears Newcastle made a much better effort of the second half and spurned two kickable penalties to go for the line-out drive, but Northampton's defence stayed strong and held off the threat of the Falcons driving pack both times.

Newcastle were handed a penalty for offside and Clegg made it 19-9 in the 57th minute.

Myler restored the 13-point gap with a 62nd-minute penalty, and with both sides using their benches in the second half, with the heavy Kingston Park pitch taking its toll on both sets of players, it was not until the 78th minute there was any real action when Falcons wing Cato snapped up a loose pass and raced in for a try which Joel Hodgson converted for Newcastle to snatch their point.

Teams

Falcons: Tait; Cato, Tiesi, Helleur, Shortland; Clegg, Blair; Vickers, Thompson, Tomaszczyk; MacLeod, McKenzie; Wilson, Welch (capt), Hogg.

Replacements: : Powell for Helleur (48), J Hodgson for Clegg (65), Strain for Vickers (17), McGuigan for Thompson (67), Brookes for Tomaszczyk (64), York for Hogg (40). Not Used: Tomes, Fury.

Try: Cato       Con: Hodgson      Pen: Clegg (3)

Northampton: Wilson; K Pisi, G Pisi, Stephenson, Elliott; Myler, Fotuali'i; Waller, Haywood, Ma'afu; Manoa, C. Day; Clark, Dowson (capt), Dickinson.

Replacements: McMillian for Haywood (73), Nutley for C. Day (65). Not Used: E. Waller, Denman, van Velze, A. Day, G. Dickson, Foden.

Tries: Wilson (2), Stephenson    Cons: Myler (2)     Pens: Myler

Attendance: 4,846

Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)