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| Gallagher Premiership |
|---|
| Northampton Saints (13) 16 |
| Try: Reinach Con: Grayson Pens: Grayson 3 |
| London Irish (8) 20 |
| Tries: Hassell-Collins, Van der Merwe, Porecki Con: Myler Pen: Myler |
London Irish stunned Northampton with two tries in the last 10 minutes as Saints missed the chance to move above Exeter and go top of the Premiership.
Hooker Dave Porecki set up the first for lock Franco Van der Merwe before scoring with a charge-down try.
Saints had led 13-8 at the break after Cobus Reinach’s try cancelled out Ollie Hassell-Collins’ opener for the Exiles.
But the visitors cashed in after a match-turning red card for home lock Api Ratuniyarawa in the 50th minute.
That was Saints’ second red card in successive Premiership games after Tom Collins’ dismissal in the win at Wasps earlier in the month, when they finished with 13 men.
They also suffered the loss of England back Piers Francis, stretchered off with a potentially serious injury, although initial reports as to his health sound optimistic.
On top of their three tries, former Saints favourite Stephen Myler, third in the list of all-time Premiership points scorers, marked his first return to Franklin’s Gardens since leaving in 2018 with two successful kicks.
But Irish also fell foul of referee Tom Foley as both scrum-half Ben Meehan and his replacement Nick Phipps were yellow-carded.
Meehan was sin-binned for a tip-tackle on opposite number Reinach, letting Saints use their extra man and go in front for the first time.
A long looping pass had allowed left winger Hassell-Collins to step back inside at the corner to score the opener, with Myler’s conversion hitting the post before James Grayson’s penalty reduced the arrears.
But, with Irish down to 14 men, although Myler kicked a penalty, Reinach then got over on the right and Grayson converted before adding another penalty for a five-point interval lead.
Then came the climax of a very busy night for referee Foley and his TMO as Ratuniyarawa was dismissed for his raised arm at the ruck. And, although Grayson kicked a third penalty for 16-8, Irish were not finished.
Hassell-Collins had a late try controversially disallowed for being stripped in the tackle by the rapidly covering Reinach, whose initial challenge had been suspiciously high and could have been adjudged a second red card and a penalty try.
But the Exiles did not panic – and in match-winner Polecki, they had the man for the moment.
Northampton: Tuala; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Grayson, Reinach; B Franks, Haywood, O Franks, Coles, Ratuniyarawa, Wood, Harrison (capt), Eadie.
Replacements: Fish, Waller, Painter, Bean, Tonks, Taylor, Symons, Collins.
Sent off: Ratuniyarawa (50).
London Irish: Stokes; Naholo, Rona, Hepetema, Hassell-Collins; Myler, Meehan; Elrington, Porecki, Kepu, Van der Merwe (capt), Coleman, Rogerson, Cowan, Tuisue.
Replacements: Atkins, Dell, Hoskins, Mafi, Donnell, Phipps, Stephenson, Williams.
Sin-bin: Meehan (26), Phipps (63).
Referee: Tom Foley (RFU).
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