After a third consecutive Premiership defeat even the most optimistic Harlequins supporter would concede their chances of making the end-of-season play-offs are now all but extinguished.
While Conor O’Shea’s side have five games left to play, they remain nine points adrift of the top four, and the odds are it is a season which will be remembered only as part of a rebuilding process.
“We’re an outside bet but we’ll keep fighting every minute of every game, as we did in this match,” said O’Shea.
Not much is going our way at the moment, but we’ll come out of this period a much better side. We’ll benefit a lot more than people imagine, a lot of young guys are learning what it means to play at this level. All the blooding we’re doing will stand us in massive credit.”Northampton, in contrast, move 13 points clear at the top of the table but, despite being boosted by the return of the England lock Courtney Lawes – playing for the first time since December after an ankle injury – their director of rugby, Jim Mallinder, admitted they were not at their best. “We didn’t play brilliantly but we did enough, and it was a very good defensive display,” he said. “Courtney seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. He’s not far off being ready for England, probably one more game for Saints will do it.”
Quins made much the better start but had to wait until the 25th minute for the first score – a penalty from Quins stand-off Nick Evans. Northampton’s first score quickly followed, the forwards temporarily bringing order to proceedings with a rolling drive that propelled the flanker Samu Manoa over the line. It felt ominous for the visitors that Saints, having played possibly their least effective 40 minutes of attacking rugby of the season, could still lead at the break, but Quins continued to take the game to their opponents, and in the minutes after half-time Yarde again went very close before being bundled into touch.
Gradually, however, quality began to tell. James Wilson finished impressively, after a clean line-out and two first-ball forward drives created enough space out wide for the imposing young full-back to crash through. A yellow card for propKyle Sinckler for a dangerous tackle did not help Quins, and another rolling Saints maul ended with Tom Wood marking his 100th appearance for the club with a try. Even then, however, Quins had the last word, a fine run by Marland Yarde giving the winger the try his and his team’s efforts deserved.
Northampton Saints: Wilson; K Pisi, G Pisi, Stephenson, Elliott; Myler,
Dickson (Fotuali’i 45); Waller (Corbisier 45), Haywood (Williams 34-40,
blood, 75), Denman (Mercey 62), Lawes, Day, Manoa, Clark (Dowson 62),
Dickinson (Wood 53).
Harlequins: Monye (Lindsay-Hague 54); Yarde, Hopper, Sloan, Walker; Evans
(Botica 68), Dickson (Tibaldi 78); Lambert (Marfo 71), Ward, Sinckler,
Matthews, Robson (Twomey 52), Clifford, Wallace, Talei (Trayfoot 68).
Referee: T Wigglesworth
Attendance: 13,362
