Northampton open with narrow win over Scarlets
Alex Waller scored the decisive try for Northampton
©PA
REACTION
"We should have pulled clear earlier as we missed key opportunities.
"It was nail-biting and could easily have gone against us. We were lucky to get away with it but we showed a lot of fight although there's plenty to work on."
Tom Wood, Northampton captain
"It was an arm wrestle but it's a cracking start for us,"
"The incident with George North was the big moment, for if we had scored then we would have kicked on, but the referee got it right.
"It's far too early to be talking about winning the competition as we are in cracking pool. We have Glasgow away next, who beat us away last time and they will play like the Scarlets so we need to be strong in the set piece."
Jim Mallinder, Northampton director of rugby
"The game went backwards and forwards and we are very disappointed as we put in a lot of good work and it was very close," he said.
"However we made too many errors and need to tidy up when we are going forward. We are making headaway and will go away and lick our wounds as Racing Metro next week is now a massive game."
Wayne Pivac, Scarlets coach
Northampton opened their European Champions Cup campaign with a nervy 15-11 win over Scarlets at Franklin's Gardens.
Ken Pisi and Alex Waller scored tries for the Saints as JJ Hanrahan kicked a penalty and a conversion while Scarlets stayed in touch through Gareth Davies' try and two penalties from Steven Shingler.
The Welsh side missed four kicks at goal, however, and were made to pay for their profligacy, opening Pool Three with a narrow defeat.
Northampton made four changes from last week's defeat to Saracens. Lee Dickson and Hanrahan came in as the half-back combination with wing Pisi and hooker Mike Heywood also recalled.
Scarlets handed Samoan lock Maselino Paulino and Shingler was fit following a toe injury to play at fly-half. Skipper Ken Owens was absent due to a toe injury and number eight John Barclay took over the captaincy.
After an error-ridden opening, Saints took the lead in the sixth minute with a fine try after Hanrahan broke through to send Pisi in.
Scarlets hit back with breaks from Gareth Davies and DTH van der Merwe and when Saints infringed under pressure, Shingler landed an easy penalty kick.
He then missed for the first time moments later, after which Saints produced an outstanding 80-metre movement which ended with Luther Burrell crossing after a burst from Pisi.
However, the try was disallowed after George North was judged to have lashed out at Michael Tagicakibau. The Scarlets wing left the field for treatment and North was sin-binned.
Further blows for Northampton followed when lock Christian Day left with an injury and Hanrahan missed a penalty.
Jake Ball then late tackled Dickson to offer Saints another penalty, but Hanrahan was off target shortly before North returned from the bin.
Scarlets scored next when Shingler did land a kick but Northampton went into the break 7-6 up.
Two minutes after the restart, Scarlets could have taken the lead and although Shingler missed badly, they did go ahead with a great try.
Dickson's clearance kick was picked up by Aled Thomas, who breached the defence to send Davies racing 30 metres and over the line. Shingler hit the post with his conversion attempt.
Northampton were soon back ahead as Waller finished off a drive to put them 12-11 ahead at the end of the third quarter.
Saints then brought on Stephen Myler at fly-half with Hanrahan switching to centre in place of George Pisi but Saints suffered another setback when flanker Jamie Gibson was given a yellow card for killing the ball although Scarlets then lost prop Ricky Evans due to concussion.
With 12 minutes to go, Hanrahan kicked a penalty to give his side some breathing space before Thomas missed a penalty for Scarlets, which coupled with the return of Gibson, helped the Saints to hang on.
