Leeds Tykes closed the gap on Zurich Premiership leaders Gloucester with a hard-fought win over Northampton at Headingley.

The home side maintained their unbeaten record at home and moved above Leicester into second place in the table.

But they had to withstand a late Northampton fightback after they had gone into half-time with a 18-6 lead.

It was an outstanding effort by Saints, who were without up to a dozen first-team regulars due to injury or international duty.

The Tykes made it clear from the start that their guests were facing a huge challenge.

Former Springbok Van Straaten converted then struck over a penalty before a Danny Scarbrough try in the 15th minute made it 15-0 to the home side.

A period of sustained early pressure ended with centre George Harder getting on the end of a Braam van Straaten kick to claim the opening try after four minutes.

The full-back finished off a good move after neat interplay with fly-half Tristan Davies.

Northampton got off the mark in the 24th minute through a Paul Grayson penalty, before the two sides exchanged penalties shortly before half-time.

Grayson cut the deficit to six with two penalties just after the turnaround.

But the visitors' hopes looked to be dead and buried when Van Straaten scored his third penalty and Craig Emmerson went over on the hour.

That gave Leeds a 26-12 lead, but Northampton refused to give in and lock Rob Hunter emerged from beneath a pile of players to claim their only try.

Grayson converted to cut the lead to just seven points with seven minutes left on the clock.

But the Yorkshire club held on and trail Gloucester, who lost to Leicester on Friday, by just three points.

Leeds: Scarbrough, Emmerson, Harder, van Straaten, Hall, Davies, Dickens, Shelley, Rawlinson, Holt, C. Murphy, Palmer, Mather, Ponton, Popham. Replacements: O'Keefe, Regan, Campbell, P. Murphy, Hogg, Hegarty, Rock.

Northampton: Beal, Sleightholme, Reihana, Leslie, Ripol, Grayson, Howard, Sturgess, Richmond, Morris, Phillips, Hunter, Blowers, Fox, Soden. Replacements: Miles, Budgen, Lord, Hepher, Bass, Brooks, Tucker.

Referee: Roy Maybank (RFU)