Northampton stay in the hunt thanks to win over Benetton

Adam Kyriacou

Northampton kept their Champions Cup knockout hopes alive after they sealed a 33-20 success over Benetton at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.

Tries from Harry Mallinder, Henry Taylor, Francois van Wyk, Fraser Dingwall and Andy Symons saw the Saints to a bonus-point victory.

Centre Dingwall ran in the critical try in the 72nd minute when his footwork, combined with a hard line, swept him over for Saints’ bonus-point fourth try to bolster hopes of qualifying as one of the best runners-up.

Up until that point they had made heavy weather against spirited opponents, who at one point threatened to move eight points clear only for Tommaso Allan to miss a kickable penalty.

Much of Northampton’s problems rested with their line-out which malfunctioned alarmingly in the first half, losing five on their own throw.

The victory also appeared to come at the cost of an injury to Courtney Lawes, who failed to appear for the second half with England coach Eddie Jones watching from the stands.

Play was held up in the opening period as David Ribbans received treatment to his left ankle and after attempting to run off the injury he limped off, but it was the only blot on an otherwise buoyant start by Northampton.

Fly-half James Grayson pulled the strings as a back move released Taqele Naiyaravoro off his wing and ended with Mallinder diving over in the right corner in the sixth minute.

Mallinder was mobbed by team-mates in recognition of his first appearance after 15 months out with a knee injury.

For all their domination, however, Northampton were unable to capitalise as chances came thick and fast.

A long forward pass to Ollie Sleightholme by Grayson wasted a clear overlap and when Benetton were shoved off their own ball at a scrum, poor decision making and a fumble by Naiyaravoro let the underdogs off the hook.

Saints’ line-out woes acted as a backdrop to the first half and in the 34th minute they slipped behind as a loose pass by prop Van Wyk fell for Tommaso Benvenuti and the Italy centre won the race for the whitewash.

The try came while Benetton’s replacement scrum-half Charly Trussardi was in the sin-bin for coming in at the side, adding to Northampton’s embarrassment.

It took just three minutes of the second half for Saints to restore their lead as a strong carry from Lewis Ludlam forced the visitors to scramble, opening a hole that was exploited by Api Ratuniyarawa and Taylor, who crossed for Northampton’s second try.

The resurgence was short-lived, though, as visiting hooker Hame Faiva finished a driving maul and when Allan converted Benetton led 17-12.

It then became the Italians’ turn to self-destruct as successive neck roles saw a penalty from in front of the posts reversed, costing a certain three points whose value was underline when Allan then missed a longer-range effort.

Northampton hit back through Van Wyk as Benetton struggled to reform their defence in time to withstand a sharp series of attacks but once again they fell behind when Allan landed a penalty.

Naiyaravoro appeared to have scored only for a knock-on by Rory Hutchinson two passes earlier to be spotted, but the key try arrived in the 72nd minute when a five-metre scrum saw Dingwall take a flat line to score.

Replacement back Symons then put the result beyond doubt in the closing moments.

Elsewhere in Pool 1, an unbeaten Leinster saw off Lyon 42-14 at the RDS to move back to the top of the qualification seedings on Sunday.

Dave Kearney (2), Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan, Sean Cronin and Andrew Porter crossed for the Irish province as they go five from five.

Leinster are now on 24 points as their impressive run of form shows no signs of abating, with a trip to Benetton their final game in the pool.

Virgile Bruni and Hendrik Lambertus Roodt scored Lyon’s tries but this defeat has ended their slim hopes of making it to the quarter-finals.