Northampton Saints 33 – 29 Harlequins: Both Smiths shine in nine-try classic
Today at 06:52 AM
By Ben Grundy
The high-scoring tradition between Northampton Saints and Harlequins did not disappoint in Friday night's nine-try thriller at Cinch Stadium.
With Smith's shining on both sides, Steve Borthwick will have a headache trying to pick between the two. Fin Smith coming out on the winning side showed defensive grit and put on another solid kicking display, however, Marcus Smith provided 19 points for the losing side, crossing the try-line twice in the game and also showing his ability from the boot.
It may have been a bright entrance for the Saints after a light show welcomed them onto the field at Cinch Stadium. However, it was not a bright start as Jack Walker went over for Harlequins from a rolling maul 80 seconds into the game after Northampton were penalised at the breakdown.
Fullback Marcus Smith converted the extras to give the London-based club a 7-0 lead. It only took three minutes for Saints to reply. TMO Rowan Kitt confirmed Emmanuel Iyogun's try from short range after Quins were penalised for coming off their feet, Fin Smith added the extras to bring the game to 7-7.
Sensational defending from Tommy Freeman in the ninth minute denied Quins their second of the evening after Will Joseph attempted to run onto a grubber kick and looked certain to score.
On the 20th minute, Marcus Smith found the gap between the Saints defenders, electing to step inside rather than test his pace on the outside. He went over for Quins' second of the night, he converted his score, 14-7 Quins.
On his return to the starting XV, Ollie Sleightholme proved Phil Dowson was right to start him in the 23rd minute as he was the beneficiary of slick hands between Saints' back line and went in on the left flank, converted by Fin Smith, 14-14.
Quins came up with a quick response of their own in the 27th minute after Marcus Smith went over for his second score of the night, much to the frustration of the home crowd who wanted the try disallowed for a forward pass.
Smith failed to add the extras from his conversion, 19-14 Quins. The number 15 continued his scoring spree in the 31st, this time from the tee, as he added three extra points to Quins scoreline after Curtis Langdon was found guilty of a high tackle on Danny Care, 22-14 Quins.
A failed drop goal attempt from Jarrod Evans brought an eventful half to a close with Quins taking an eight-point lead into the break, 22-14 Quins. Saints came flying out the blocks in the second half after Matthew Carley awarded a penalty try in the 42nd minute and a subsequent yellow card to Nick David for a high tackle which denied Ollie Sleightholme his second score of the night, 22-21 Quins.
Sam Graham sniped from the base of the ruck and went over to the left of the posts to put the home side back in front in the 55th minute. The number eight bundled over after a series of assaults from the forward pack on the Quins’ defence. Smith added the extra two points to give Northampton a crucial bonus point score.
A fifth of the night for Saints and a second for Sleightholme came in the 63rd minute. A lovely offload from George Furbank allowed the winger to run in freely. After dropping the ball on the line, a couple of times before his score, the number 11's hard work eventually was rewarded.
Smith could not add the extras, 33-22 Saints. Jarrod Evans evaded the tackle of Tommy Freeman in the 73rd minute which freed up the space for Will Porter to go in untouched to bring the game to within four points and provide Quins with a bonus point of their own.
Smith knocked over the extras, 33-29 Saints. Saints held out strong for a bonus point win with Fin Smith dismissing the ball into the Carlsberg Stand accompanied by a huge roar from a sold-out Cinch Stadium.
Another high-scoring battle at the Gardens won by just four points continues Northampton's unbeaten streak at home, 33-29 Saints.
Northampton Saints – 15 George Furbank (Captain), 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Tom James, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Chunya Munga, 5 Alex Coles, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Sam GrahamReplacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Tom West, 18 Luke Green, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Tom Seabrook, 23 James Ramm
Tries: Iyogun 5' Sleightholme 23' 63' Penalty Try 42' Graham 55'
Conversions: Smith 5' 23' 55' 63'
Penalties: 0
Drop goals: 0
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
Harlequins – 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Nick David, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Lennox Anyanwu, 11 Oscar Beard, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Danny Care, 1 Fin Baxter, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Irne Herbst, 5 Stephan Lewies (Captain), 6 Jack Kenningham, 7 Will Evans, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Jordan Els, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Will Porter, 22 Bryn Bradley, 23 Cameron Anderson
Tries: Walker 2' Smith 20' 27' Porter 73'
Conversions: Smith 2' 20' 73'
Penalties: 31'
Drop goals: 0
Yellow cards: Nick David
Red cards: none
5 talking points
- Smith by name, sensational by nature
The Smith surname in the UK may be the most common however, there is nothing ordinary about both Marcus and Fin Smith. Sensational pretty much sums up both.
Marcus Smith took the 15 shirt up for the first time in Quins colours after regular fullback Leigh Halfpenny was not available due to injury. With two tries on the night and only one failed conversion, which was from the left touchline, he provided for Quins superbly in attack.
Quins head Coach Danny Wilson praised Smith's performance: "Marcus did a brilliant job tonight. He's a huge attacking presence and huge force but Marcus is a 10, he's England's number 10."Fin Smith equally provided nicely in attack for the Saints, flaunting his strong kicking game once again.
He also proved he is not afraid to get his hands dirty in defence, turning the ball over at the breakdown and putting in big hits throughout the game. The Saints' Boss was also impressed with his England number 10 contender: "He's got a very level head.
“He's been in a lot of environments internationally and with us where he has been under pressure. He like Marcus (Smith) and George (Ford) has had them experiences that give him that calmness. He's been excellent and the way he delivers messages around the group has been outstanding.
“What doesn't come across though is how brave he is, he made 29 tackles last week against Exeter last week."
Speaking on his defensive abilities, Fin Smith said: "I enjoy doing it (defending). I have been onto Tom Pearson, my housemate, that he needs to sort me out (tackle players for him) this week and I thought he did a great job doing that."
“Genuinely, growing up in the garden playing with my brothers, who I am six years younger than, I sort of learnt to not be afraid of putting my head where it hurts. I know I'm not the biggest guy, but I will never shy away from it (defending)."
Steve Borthwick will have a certain headache selecting the number 10 shirt after injury to George Ford.
2. Alex Coles taken injured again
Saints' lock was withdrawn after ten minutes with a suspected rib injury. Only just having returned from injury, it was no doubt frustrating for Coles. Director of Rugby Phil Dowson gave extra information on Coles' injury:
"Yeah, it's his ribs. It is too early to know the extent of the injury but yeah he came off with a rib injury."
3. Suspicion of a forward pass for Quins third
There was a lot of frustration in the Cinch Stand with referee Mathew Carley as the pass that set up Marcus Smith looked suspiciously forward. TMO Rowan Kitt found no issue with the score however and Smith and his second of the night.
4. MOTM Sam Graham sticks his name up for England selection
After being left out of England's 36-man squad, Sam Graham's man-of-the-match performance must stick his name into Steve Borthwick's considerations.
Phil Dowson commended the number eight’s man of the match performance: "I think if the game had gone another way, I think Will Evans and Marcus Smith (could have got man of the match).
But yeah Sam kept turning up, carried a lot of ball and looked like he made a lot of dents and you know what you are getting from Sam, his work-rate is outstanding."
5. Sleightholme scores two on his return to the XV
Probably regretting that he only managed to get two to his name, Ollie Sleightholme showed that Phil Dowson was right to select him for this fixture after scoring two tries for his side. Potentially missing out on two scores due to dropping the ball on the line, Sleightholme may regret not finishing more of his chances.
However, the England international still came up with two for his side and also was the player who earned Saints a penalty try after a high tackle denied him going over on the left flank, leading to Nick David being yellow carded by Matthew Carley.
Dowson believes Ollie Sleightholme deserves to be in for a shout for an England shirt: "(There are a) tonne of wingers who deserve to be mentioned in that space (playing for England) Ollie knows what he is working on and knows what he needs to get better at.
“I think he is starting to be in that mix in that group (wingers considered for England) and I think that's exactly where he wants to be.”
The post Northampton Saints 33 – 29 Harlequins: Both Smiths shine in nine-try classic appeared first on Ruck.
