 Ben Cohen's try proved decisive |
Northampton: (13) 25
Tries: Quinlan, Robinson, Cohen
Cons: Reihana 2
Pens: Reihana 2
Newcastle: (6) 23
Tries: Elliott, Wilkinson, Woods
Con Wilkinson
Pens: Wilkinson 2
Jonny Wilkinson missed what would have been a winning penalty three minutes from time as Northampton pipped Newcastle in an enthralling finish.
Saints dominated the first half after a try from David Quinlan but only led 13-6 at the break.
Wilkinson kicked two penalties and tries from Anthony Elliott and Wilkinson put the Falcons 18-13 up.
Saints levelled through Mark Robinson, Ben Woods hit back for Newcastle but Ben Cohen's converted try clinched it.
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Newcastle still had the chance to steal it at the death, but Wilkinson - to general amazement - pushed a relatively straightforward kick at goal wide, and Toby Flood's drop-goal fell narrowly off target. That would have completed a remarkable turnaround for the Falcons, who were comprehensively outplayed in the first half.
After an early Reihana penalty Saints won a scrum against the head after 10 minutes to give Quinlan an easy run-in for the opening try.
Reihana added the extras but despite some inventive prompting from fly-half Carlos Spencer, they could not build on their forward dominance.
Wilkinson landed a penalty just before the half-hour and Saints suffered a blow when centre Jon Clarke limped off with a broken ankle.
 Wilkinson impressed despite his missed kicks |
Reihana did bang over a second penalty but Wilkinson's effort from halfway kept the Falcons in it at the interval. Two Newcastle tries in four minutes on the resumption turned the game on its head.
Elliott's smart finish made it 13-11 before Flood's fancy footwork and pop-up pass allowed Wilkinson to dive over and convert for an 18-13 lead.
Saints sent on Robinson at scrum-half and within three minutes he touched down after a forwards charge to level it going into the last quarter.
Newcastle hit back with a splendid try from flanker Woods, but Saints roared back to send Cohen over and Reihana - who had missed three kicks - converted from the touchline.
Saints coach Paul Grayson:
"It was not how we wanted to get out of the blocks. We were comfortably in control without ever playing well. We contrived to almost give it away. "You have to pick up your points where you can. No doubt there will be times this season where we play well and get beaten so I can't complain about the result."
Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher:
"I thought [Jonny Wilkinson] was very good. Unfortunately he missed a couple of kicks but his work-rate is incredible and he is effective on the ball. "If you actually analyse what he does in the game, if you look at the impact compared to any other player on the pitch - how far he runs, his tackles, his effectiveness - then you would be amazed.
"He has obviously been working hard during the time he has had out."
Northampton: Reihana; Lamont, Clarke, Quinlan, Cohen; Spencer, Howard; Smith, Thompson, Budgen, Damien Browne, Short, Tupai, Fox, Easter.
Replacements: Richmond, Emms, Lord, Hopley, Robinson, Kydd, Myring.
Newcastle: Burke; May, Noon, Flood, Elliott; Wilkinson, Charlton; Ward, Long, Wilson, Perry, Buist, Wilson, Woods, Dowson.
Replacements: Morris, Thompson, Golding, Tomes, McCarthy, Grindal, Rudd.
Referee: R Debney (RFU)
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