Northampton (19) 38
Tries: Diggin, Foden, Wilson, Downey Cons: Everitt, Myler (2) Pen: Everitt (4) Sale (3) 3
Drop goal: Hodgson
 Fodden joined Saints from Sale at the start of the season |
A last-minute James Downey try earned Northampton a bonus point as they cruised to victory at home to Sale. Paul Diggin ran in the only try of the first half for Saints, after Charlie Hodgson kicked a drop-goal for Sale. Four Barry Everitt penalties gave them a healthy lead at the break and further tries after the interval from Ben Foden and Roger Wilson ensured victory. Downey completed the rout with a fourth Saints score, the bonus point helping them climb to seventh in the table. Foden's try was just reward for an impressive display against his former club and further underlined his England credentials.  | 606: DEBATE |
The full-back, who has been overlooked by England since he won his first cap as a replacement in the Six Nations opener against Italy, proved to be a constant menace to the depleted visitors. Sharks were without 11 first-team regulars for the visit to Franklin's Gardens and suffered further setbacks when hooker Marc Jones sustained an injury in the warm-up, while scrum-half Chris Leck, centre Chris Bell and lock Dean Schofield were all injured inside 25 minutes. Despite their injury problems the visitors defended valiantly for the opening 30 minutes, but Diggin soon rounded off a superb move with Everitt adding a conversion to take his first-half tally to 14 points. Sale were dealt a further blow after the break as Scotland full-back Rory Lamont hobbled off on his comeback after three months out with an ankle injury and Foden showed no mercy as he raced clear to score Saints' second try. Number eight Wilson further extended the home side's lead, with replacement Stephen Myler adding the extras and Downey exploited an exhausted defence with seconds left to cap a good day for Northampton.
Northampton director of rugby Jim Malinder on Ben Foden:
"He backs up performances week after week and I can only say that we are delighted to have him on our side. "But for the lad, in terms of his England aspirations, I feel sorry for him because he's showed that he's good enough to play at the next stage. "In terms of everything he does it's fantastic and he's backed it up again today. I can only hope that the British Lions are watching him. "When he gets released from the England squad he's disappointed but Ben doesn't get down very easily. "He takes it all in his stride and, as he keeps saying to me, all he can do is keep playing, going out there and doing his very best and that's what he keeps doing." Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones:
"It was going to be a day for Ben, he was either going to be the best player on the field or the worst player on the field. "But the script was a Northampton win and Ben was the best player on the field which doesn't surprise me at all because we know what a threat he is. "We were hoping he would be with England to be honest. He was the difference in the two teams, simple as that, he created all the tries. Even if he wasn't passing the ball to score the try he was breaking the defensive line before that."
Northampton: Foden, Diggin, Ansbro, Downey, Reihana, Everitt, Dickson, Tonga'uiha, Sharman, Stewart, Fernandez Lobbe, Kruger, Lawes, Best, Wilson.
Replacements: Lamont for Diggin (44), Myler for Everitt (55), Mayor for Dickson (70), J. Gray for Sharman (75), Smith for Stewart (53), Rae for Fernandez Lobbe (61), Hopley for Lawes (68). Sale: Lamont, Kuadey, Keil, Bell, Doherty, Hodgson, Leck, O'Donnell, Briggs, Roberts, Schofield, Cockbain, C. Jones, Fearns, Fernandez Lobbe.
Replacements: McLeod for Lamont (44), Thomas for Bell (19), Horn-Smith for Hodgson (78), Cliff for Leck (17), Turner for O'Donnell (51), Cox for Schofield (25), D. Tait for Cockbain (57). Sin Bin: Doherty (47). Att: 13,250 Ref: Dean Richards (RFU).
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