By Jason Harris
May 31 2005

Glen Jackson kept his nerve in second half injury time to kick a 46 metre penalty which won a bruising and fractious Zurich Premiership round 15 contest at Franklin's Gardens 21-20, giving Sarries their first back-to-back away league wins since September 2000 and complete a league double over Saints Northampton did have two chances after the Jackson goal to steal a much-needed win right at the death, but outside half Shane Drahm's 85th minute penalty attempt from all of 52 metres hit the underside of the crossbar and a drop goal attempt with the last kick of the match from the same player which sailed wide.

Saints had the better of the early exchanges but could not get into Sarries territory, despite having a virtual monopoly of possession. However, the visitors gifted the home side an early 3-0 lead courtesy of a fourth minute Drahm penalty.

Further lapses in concentration and discipline offered Saints the opportunity to add to their advantage, and with their first real attack of the game, Northampton wing Paul Diggin scored the opening try on his home debut. Drahm converted to make it 10-0.

Jackson reduced the arrears to 10-3 with a penalty following sustained Sarries pressure and this pressure mounted as the Men in Black lay siege to the Northampton line for what seemed like an eternal period of first half stoppage time.

Eventually, after several reset scrums and heroic Northampton defence, a five metre shove from Saracens right under the posts bore fruit. It was thought by most in the ground that Kyran Bracken had got the touchdown, but referee Steve Lander ruled that it was a penalty try as the Saints scrum fragmented. Jackson duly obliged with the easiest of conversions and as the whistle blew for the interval, it was game on at 10 points apiece.

Both sides were seemingly given rockets by their respective coaches as they came out all guns blazing at the start of the second period. Saints took the lead once more with a clinical catch-and-drive move from a five metre lineout for which the Saracens defence had no answer. Captain Corne Krige was the man to emerge from the bottom of the pile with the ball and the five points and his try was successfully converted by Drahm. 17-10 Saints.

Back came Sarries again through a second Jackson penalty goal and on 64 minutes the visitors took the lead with their second try of the game.

Mark Barholomeusz instigated a flowing move as the ball spun from right to left through several pairs of hands, including those of Tevita Vaikona and Ben Johnston who both showed strength and awareness to offload in the tackle, with Johnston's pop pass just a metre out sending Dan Harris over in the left hand corner. Jackson missed the conversion but Sarries were now ahead, albeit by a solitary point, at 18-17.

The lead lasted only seven minutes as Drahm booted another long-range goal to restore the Northampton advantage, but it was not to be the Saints' day as Jackson had the final word as time ran out.

Northampton: B Reihana; W Human, N Starling (M Tucker 58), C Hyndman, P Diggin; S Drahm, J Howard; S Emms, D Richmond, C Budgen (R Morris h-t), S Boome, M Lord, D Fox, C Krige (capt), M Soden (I Sipa 66).

Saracens: M Bartholomeusz; B Johnston, T Castaignede (K Sorrell 49), D Harris, T Vaikone; G Jackson, K Bracken (M Raululi 60); K Yates (N Lloyd 60), M Cairns (R Ibanez 60), C Visagie, K Chesney (S Taylor 60), I Fullarton, T Randell, D Seymour, H Vyvyan (capt).

Referee: S Lander (Warrington).

Attendance 12,020

Weather: dry, overcast