Saints celebrate first title in a decade

Saintsscrum-half Alex Mitchell scored the winning try, seven minutes from time, afterBath had come from behind to lead, this despite the first half dismissal ofBeno Obano.

TheEngland international was dismissed on 21 minutes by referee Christophe Ridleyfor a high tackle on Saints back-row forward Juarno Augustus.

TommyFreeman and Ollie Sleightholme put Saints in front, but Thomas du Toit and WillMuir brought Bath level before Finn Russell’s penalty put the 14 men ahead.

However,Northampton’s numerical advantage eventually paid off as they turned the tablein their favour when it mattered and held on to be crowned champions for thefirst time in a decade, having finished top of the regular season’s leaguetable.

Post-game,Saints Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson, admitted he had mixed feelings about hisside’s showing, albeit they were victorious.

“Interms of the match, it was frustrating to a degree - we probably didn’t play aswell as would have liked to in a final,” said Dawson.

“Ithought Bath were excellent in executing their game-plan. When they went down t14 men, it galvanised them, they went hard at the breakdown and they put usunder tons of pressure. We couldn’t get any flow.

“Froman emotional point of view, this whole year we started pre-season on June 19 toget to this point and to scrape through in the last five minutes is both a hugejoy really and a bit of relief.

“Credit to a Bath side who go down to 14men after 20 minutes and that actually galvanises their effort. Johann vanGraan has talked all season about how good their group is – and you sawthat today.

“With 10 minutes to go, we got a littlebit of magic from George Hendy and we went up a gear. We managed to get a bitof momentum and we managed to get some ball out of the breakdown and that justabout got us over the line.”

Victory at HQ meant a number oflong-serving Saints signed off in glorious fashion, including Courtney Lawes,who lifted the trophy alongside Lewis Ludlum.

Dowson added: “Loads has been writtenabout his playing ability, and the way he’s evolved in the game, going secondrow to back row, his turnover ability, carrying the ball. He’s always had theability to cut people in half and line-out ability. Courts has had the desireand mentality to get better.

“But more importantly this year is howmuch he’s added to the group. We’ve got a young group, there’s no hiding that.His presence and the confidence is really obvious through the group in gameslike today, games like last week or at Croke Park.

“Courts has been there and done that onthe biggest stages. Players look to him and that is something that isintangible. That has a huge impact on the players around the group. He hasallowed them to grow.”

‍