NORTHAMPTON 19

GLASGOW 15

IT was a spirited display – one of their best of the season, in fact – but in the end it was not enough to revive Glasgow’s hopes of qualifying for the last eight of the Champions Cup. Even to finish as runners-up in Pool 3, never mind as one of the best three second-placed teams from the five pools, they would have to beat Racing 92 at Rugby Park and hope that Northampton lose to Scarlets. More realistically, Northampton will be the ones not only to be runners-up to Racing 92 in Pool 3, but also to go through to the last eight.

Racing, who beat Scarlets 64-14 yesterday to win the group, will come to Kilmarnock on Saturday determined to round off the pool stages with a win. Northampton, who now have 14 points to Glasgow’s ten, will be favourites to win in Wales against bottom-of-the-pool Scarlets.

The Warriors are still falling some way short of the attacking verve they displayed at their best last season, but at least they showed their character in abundance to fight back from the loss of an early score. They were ahead going into the final five minutes, but then Tim Swinson was sinbinned for throwing a punch, and Northampton used the extra man well to snatch a dramatic late winner.

The Warriors had the first scoring chance of the evening after two minutes, albeit no more than a slim one, as Stuart Hogg attempted a long-range penalty from just inside the home half. The kick just about had the distance, but went a little wide of the left-hand post. It was the first of three kicks that went abegging.

Northampton steadily increased the pressure after that, and it was little surprise that the first try of the evening was produced by a lineout drive - Saints’ speciality this season, and also, uncoincidentally, one of the Warriors’ major weaknesses. The home crowd applauded the decision to send a kickable penalty into touch as if it signalled a commitment to running rugby, but in reality it was a calculated gamble - one that paid off less than a minute later.

The ball safely gathered from the throw-in, the pack rumbled on, and over the Glasgow line, and at the back of them came ball-carrier Teimana Harrison, who dotted down just a metre infield from the corner flag. JJ Hanrahan converted.

Finn Russell then missed a penalty attempt from 30 metres or so out, but it was at least evidence that Glasgow were beginning to get into better attacking positions. and the stand-off was successful with another attempt after 24 minutes to narrow the gap to 7-3.

Saints were forced into a change a couple of minutes after that score when Tom Collins took a head knock after Stuart Hogg collided with him while collecting a high ball. Harry Mallinder, the son of Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder, came on for his senior debut.

Russell clawed back another three points after 32 minutes when Northampton were penalised for going offside. Apart from that short dominant spell in which they had taken the lead, Saints had been unimpressive, whereas the Warriors had become increasingly confident and adventurous.

That pattern threatened to change in the last minute of the half, when another penalty kicked to touch gave Northampton the chance to drive the lineout. This time, however, their pack was held up, and a backs move was ended by a Russell interception. The No 10 was caught just inside the home half, but it was another bright moment for Glasgow.

Russell was off target again three minutes into the second half with a penalty, but he was soon given an easier effort and made no mistake to put his team 9-7 ahead. The advantage did not last long.

The fly-half knocked on when fielding a high kick deep inside his 22, and after attacking from the resultant scrum Northampton were awarded a penalty. The formula that had given them the lead was again put into practice: a kick to touch, a drive, and a flop over the line, with Christian Day being credited with the score. JJ Hanrahan missed the conversion and was immediately replaced by Stephen Myler.

A fourth successful penalty from Russell then made it 12-12, and Taqele Naiyaravoro replaced Lee Jones as Glasgow decided to go for broke. With ten minutes to play Hogg attempted another long-distance penalty from just inside the Northampton half, and this time the kick was accurate,

Five minutes from time Swinson, who had just come off the bench, was yellow-carded for a punch after he had joined a maul. Northampton patiently made their way upfield, and delivered the coup de grace inside the final minute.

From far out on the right, and playing advantage, Myler sent a punt towards the far corner. George North leapt to knock it back into the hands of Mallinder, who ran over and celebrated deliriously. Myler converted, the referee blew for full-time, and Glasgow’s valiant attempt to stay in the competition until the final round of pool games was over.

NORTHAMPTON: Tries: Harrison, Day, Mallinder. Cons: Hanrahan, Myler.

GLASGOW: Pens: Russell 4, Hogg.

Northampton: B Foden; T Collins (H Mallinder 26), G Pisi, L Burrell, G North; J Hanrahan (S Myler 54), L Dickson (T Kessell); A Waller (E Waller 64), D Hartley (M Haywood 58), P Hill (G Denman 73), C Lawes, C Day, J Gibson, T Wood, T Harrison (J Fisher 58). Unused substitute: M Paterson.

Glasgow Warriors: S Hogg (D Weir 78); L Jones (T Naiyaravoro 58), A Dunbar, S Johnson, S Lamont; F Russell, A Price; G Reid (A Allan 65), P MacArthur (S Mamukashvili 62), S Puafisi (Z Fagerson 54), L Nakarawa, J Gray, R Wilson, C Fusaro (T Swinson 68), A Ashe (S Favaro 57). Unused substitute: G Hart.

Referee: R Poite (France). Attendance: 14,874.