Saracens 22-22 Northampton

Saracens (12) 22
Tries: Melck Cons: Wigglesworth Pens: Wigglesworth 5
Northampton (17) 22
Tries: Dreyer, Diggin, Geraghty Cons: Geraghty Pens: Geraghty 2

Geraghty won the LV= Cup with Northampton last season

Shane Geraghty's late try gave holders Northampton Saints a draw against Saracens in the LV= Cup.

Although Saints had the advantage at half-time thanks to tries from Regardt Dreyer and Paul Diggin, the hosts fought back and nearly came out on top.

Richard Wigglesworth kicked five penalties and converted Justin Melck's first-half try to give them the lead.

But Geraghty, who also kicked two penalties and a conversion, went over in the final moments to earn the draw.

Saracens head coach Mark McCall said:

"Yes it was disappointing to have victory snatched away at the death but we had some young boys making their debuts.

"I was particularly impressed with full-back Ben Ransom who's only 18 but looked to the manor born on his debut, I thought the lad was outstanding.

"You see him in action in training where he always wants to be involved, always wants the ball. I believe he has a tremendous future."

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder told BBC Radio Northampton:

"It's a tough place to play and we've not had too much success there over the last few years.

"They made a few changes but there were some good players out there, and I thought both our experienced players and our younger lads did very well.

"To be successful we need a strong squad and I think we showed we have a lot of players who are going to contribute massively to our team moving forwards.

"I'm very pleased with Shane (Geraghty) at fly-half. He was a threat all game and I thought he gave a fine performance in a very inexperienced side.

"He will be disappointed to have missed the conversion because it would have earned us victory, but we'll take the two points for a draw because we fielded a number of lads getting their introduction to rugby at this level."

Saracens: Ransom; Strettle, Ratuvou, Powell, Tagicakibau; Mordt, Wigglesworth; Parr, George, Skuse, Smith, Vyvyan; Burger, Saull, Wray.

Replacements: Short for Strettle (41), Farrell for Powell (56), Carstens for Parr (48), Nieto for Skuse (48), Kruis for Smith (23), Melck for Burger (47).
Not Used: Reynecke, Barrett.

Sin Bin: Saull (27).

Northampton: Tonks; Elliott, Ansbro, Cornwell, Diggin; Geraghty, Powell; Dreyer, Sharman, Mercey, Sanderson, Sorenson; Clark, Nutley, Easter.

Replacements: Ford for Cornwell (67), Waller for Dreyer (73), Long for Sharman (73).
Not Used: Parkins, Hicks, Ingle, Cummins, Sadler.

Sin Bin: Sharman (40).

Att: 6,015

Ref: Chris White (RFU).