Saints resist Castres comeback

The Saints were already out of the Pool Four race for the quarterfinals, before the French side arrived at Franklin's Gardens.

A brace from Teimana Harrison and Stephen Myler's score had put the Saints 21-8 ahead at half-time.

Alexander Bias crossed to keep Castres in the match, and they showed all their grit to fight back to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.

Julien Dumora ghosted over and Rory Kockott added eight points from the kicking tee to level it up with 20 minutes to go.

But captain Tom Wood led from the front to power over and seal a bonus-point 28-21 triumph.

Castres were chasing a triumph to keep their slim last eight hopes alive, but they got off to the worst possible start.

The Saints came flying out of the blocks and were soon knocking on the French try-line. Myler then popped the ball to Harrison, who crashed over from close range. Myler converted for a 7-0 lead, before Kockott pulled three points back with a penalty.

Castres hooker Jody Jenneker was sin-binned for handling the ball at a ruck, but his side showed their spirit to hit the front. Ben Foden was powerless to stop the French side from utilising their overlap to send flank Bias storming down the wing to score at the corner.

But the Saints response was immediate.

Scrumhalf Nick Groom sniped through after a line-out before some quick ball at the breakdown allowed Myler to stroll over the tryline. He converted for a 14-8 lead, before it got even better.

Northampton got back down into Castres territory before Wood got his hands on the ball at a ruck. The ball squirmed out to Harrison, who dived over for a double and a 21-8 half-time lead.

The game looked beyond Castres at the break, but flyhalf Dumora ghosted through a gap to score before Kockott converted to bring them back to within six points.

Franklin's Gardens fell silent as Kockott landed two more penalties to close the 13-point gap and make it 21-all with a quarter to play.

But they were back on their feet when Wood charged through the defence to score after an overthrown line-out to earn a bonus-point triumph.

The scorers:

For Northampton Saints:

Tries:Harrison 2, Myler, Wood

Cons: Myler 4

For Castres:

Tries:Bias, Dumora

Con: Kockott

Pens: Kockott 3

Yellow card: Jody Jenneker (Castres, 18 – cynical foul, slowing the ball down at a ruck inches away from the try-line)

Teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Juan Pablo Estelles, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Harry Mallinder, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Tom Wood (captain), 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 James Craig, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ahsee Tuala.

Castres: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 David Smith, 10 Julien Dumora, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Maama Vaipulu, 7 Alexandre Bias, 6 Yannick Caballero, 5 Victor Moreaux, 4 Loic Jacquet, 3 Damien Tussac, 2 Jody Jenneker, 1 Mihaita Lazar.

Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Antoine Tichit, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 20 Antoine Dupont, 21 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 22 Steve Mafi, 23 Thomas Combezou.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)

TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Source: @ChampionsCup