Northampton Saints match-winning try against Saracens causes online debate

Louis Chapman Coombe
Northampton Saints players celebrating Josh Kemeny's opening try v Saracens

Northampton Saints players celebrating a try v Saracens in the 24/25 Premiership season

Northampton Saints’ match-winning try in their 28-24 win over Saracens in the Premiership has divided fans online over a possible forward pass.

Tarek Haffar crossed in the 82nd minute of the match to help the hosts seal a famous comeback win over the six-time champions, giving them the perfect build-up into the Champions Cup final next weekend.

Fans react to Northampton Saints winner

Saracens were firmly in control for much of the game, leading 24-7 just after half-time too, but two late tries helped give the hosts a sniff of a famous comeback.

And that hope quickly turned into reality as replacement Haffar, fresh from his first score earlier in the afternoon, grabbed the match-winning try to put a major dent in Saracens’ play-off hopes.

But, this try wasn’t without controversy.

In the build-up, Northampton threw two offloads out of contact, as Fraser Dingwall connected with Tom Litchfield and Litchfield later popped it off for Haffar to run under the sticks.

These two offloads were later reviewed by the TMO, with the match referee initially sending it up as a try on the field, but it was decided there was no clear and obvious reason to overturn the on-field call.

That decision has since sparked a lively debate among supporters on social media.

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“This was a disgrace, what’s the point of even playing if simple decisions aren’t being made,” said one user.

“It’s a metre forward it’s not a hard decision but he’s bottled it. An absolute disgrace looking at that and giving it the ok,” said another. 

But, some fans also leapt to the defence of the officiating team, saying it was the right call.

“Well done Luke Pearce on having the guts to make the right calls at the end,” one user said. 

Another added: “Flat for me”

The victory for Northampton Saints has now dented Saracens play-off hopes, with them now needing a win and for results to go their way in order to reach the top four.

READ MORE: Saracens player ratings: Mark McCall’s bench ‘bullied’ as Northampton Saints deliver a crushing blow to play-off hopes

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