Exiles edge out Northampton

London Irish moved into third place in the Guinness Premiership with a five-point victory over Northampton at the Madejski Stadium.

An excellent kicking display from Tom Homer and a late penalty try ensured that the home fans' St. Patrick's Day celebrations extended well into the weekend.

The away side got off to a dream start when captain Bruce Reihana touched down in the left corner after a brilliant multi-phase move that spanned almost the whole pitch.

Former London Irish stand-off Barry Everitt successfully converted a difficult kick to put Northampton 7-0 up with barely two minutes on the clock.

The momentum changed quickly when Northampton lock Courdney Lawes was sin-binned for handling in a ruck that was close to the try-line.

Shortly after wing Adam Thompstone broke through and reached over the line to score and young full-back Homer levelled the scores with the conversion.

Close

Homer then put the Exiles in front with a penalty from the right with a quarter-of-an-hour gone in the match.

Irish continued to press forward and Thompstone almost added a second try but failed to gather a brilliant grubber kick from Elvis Seveali'i with the try-line at his mercy.

Everitt made it 10-10 with a simple penalty against the run of play but Homer replied from a similar position after a Northampton infringement straight from the restart.

The visitors scored a second try when they again found themselves with a numbers advantage on the left wing, number eight Roger Wilson taking the ball in for the score.

The Saints continued to infringe in the ruck and Homer fired London Irish back into the lead with a booming penalty kick from just inside the Northampton half.

Everitt struck a difficult penalty into the joint between upright and crossbar, the ball bouncing away from the posts and ensuring the hosts took a 16-15 lead into the half-time break.

Steffon Armitage of London Irish was yellow carded at the start of the second half for not rolling away after the tackle as referee Sean Davey lost patience with nagging infringements.

Kicking

From the resulting penalty, Reihana sent the visitors ahead with a successful attempt from slightly further out than Homer before him.

Despite being a man down, Irish almost scored when Thompstone made a fantastic break and spread the ball out wide but the Saints did well to clear the danger and Reihana extended the lead with another long-range penalty shortly after.

The former New Zealand international continued his fine kicking form when he put Northampton eight points ahead after 60 minutes, aided by a deflection off the upright.

But Homer responded with a penalty of his own after Juandre Kruger entered a ruck from the side. The 18-year-old then reduced the gap to two points with another nerveless kick as Irish piled on the pressure.

Only minutes later he gave Toby Booth's side the lead with a penalty awarded because of a high-tackle from Sean Lamont.

London Irish sealed victory when they were awarded a penalty try after the Northampton pack deliberately disrupted a scrum as it headed towards the try-line.

Reihana salvaged a losing bonus point for Northampton with a late penalty.