Goode kicks Worcester past Saints

Editor

Four penalties from Andy Goode proved enough for Worcester to beat Northampton 12-3 in a try-less Premiership clash on Friday.

Four penalties from Andy Goode proved enough for Worcester to beat an ill-disciplined Northampton side 12-3 in a try-less Premiership clash at Sixways.

Warriors and Saints both came into this game at the wrong end of the table taking only 5 points from the first month of the Aviva Premiership.

Despite an impressive record of only losing once at Sixways, the Saints started the game looking like a team low on confidence.

Andy Goode's ninth minute penalty gave the Warriors an early lead. Stephen Myler continued his good early season kicking form to level the scores with a well-struck 40 metre penalty.

Warriors full-back Errie Claassens produced the best moment of the half when he side-stepped several defenders to go within meters of the Saints try-line.

The Warriors led 6-3 at half-time after a Goode penalty was well converted just after the half hour mark.

The Saints began the second half dreadfully, as they conceded 5 penalties in the first 10 minutes.

Repeated infringements at the driving maul led to Saints tight-head Brian Mujati being sent to the sin-bin.

A Goode penalty took the score to 9-3, although the home side would have been slightly aggrieved not to make more of having the extra man.

Saints youngster Scott Armstrong was denied a fantastic score by a try-saving Claassens tackle after the winger had beaten 2 defenders. That was a rare highlight for the Saints side, as handling errors and a high penalty count restricted any attacking opportunities.

Ryan Lamb came on for the Saints with 20 minutes to go, but was unable to make a significant contribution missing a drop goal and penalty.

With just over 10 minutes left in the game, Referee David Rose yet again penalised the Saints. Goode converted the penalty to make the score 12-3, which is how it remained till the final whistle was blown.

It was scrappy game with no tries to speak of, one would expect as much, as the two sides have only scored seven tries between them before this game.

It is a vital victory for the Warriors, whereas the Saints' fourth straight defeat leaves them stuttering near the bottom of the table.

The scorers:

For Worcester:
Pens: Goode 4

For Northampton:
Pen: Myler

Worcester Warriors: 15 Errie Claassens, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Dale Rasmussen (c), 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Chris Jones, 7 Jake Abbott, 6 Neil Best, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 James Percival, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Ed Shervington, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Ceri Jones, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19 Adam Balding, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Tom Arscott.

Northampton Saints:15 Greig Tonks, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Scott Armstrong, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Ben Nutley, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Paul Doran Jones.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 James Craig, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Tom May.

Referee: David Rose