They left it late, very late, but Northampton gave themselves the best possible chance of making the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup with a dramatic length-of-the-field try by Jon Clarke in stoppage time yesterday.
The fourth try secured a priceless winning bonus point for the 2000 champions and set up a tumultuous meeting with Munster at Thomond Park on Friday to decide the outcome of pool one.
After watching his side record a tenth consecutive victory in all competitions, Jim Mallinder, the director of rugby, remained adamant that Northampton can stand “toe to toe” with the former champions despite having 24 hours less than the Irish province to prepare for the crucial match at a venue where Leicester are the only victorious visiting side in the history of the competition.
Mallinder has complained by letter to ERC about the unfairness of the situation, but has received short shrift.
The simple fact remains that a victory would ensure Northampton top the group, but a losing bonus point could still be sufficient to see them through as one of two best-placed runners-up. That was why Clarke’s try could prove so invaluable.
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Their victory at Franklin’s Gardens was inspired by Ben Foden, aided and abetted by Chris Ashton. The pair helped to tear apart a flagging Perpignan in a second half during which Northampton scored 28 unanswered points. Foden, who is making it difficult for Martin Johnson not to play him in the RBS Six Nations Championship, was a mesmerising presence and when he hit top gear and started running the ball back, Northampton went into overdrive. He was twice involved in the last play of the game, which resulted in the grandstand finish. With the seconds ticking away, Northampton ran the ball from their own 22. Bruce Reihana and Alan Dickens played their part before Christian Day gave Clarke the scoring pass down the left-hand touchline. Stephen Myler’s conversion soared over and the crowd erupted in jubilation.
In a sluggish first half Northampton seemed anxious and were second best to a below-strength Perpignan side who dominated the breakdown and territory. Northampton kicked aimlessly, struggled to make any headway and were fortunate to lead at the break courtesy of two Shane Geraghty penalty goals as Joffrey Michel made a total hash of a gilt-edged chance by failing to dive on a loose ball over the Northampton line.
But in the second 40 minutes, and with Perpignan starting to blow, Northampton threw off their shackles.
Foden was the catalyst, setting up Ashton’s try with a superb counterattack in which he first shaped to kick, then dummied before motoring through a gap and setting the prolific wing free. Foden and Ashton combined to put Phil Dowson over and Lee Dickson, an electric presence at scrum half, slithered over for the third in the 60th minute. But in the final quarter chances came and went, not least when Dylan Hartley tried an elaborate crossfield kick when the home team had a huge overlap. “We were twitchy,” Mallinder said. “I am just relieved we made it.”
Mallinder will hope that Courtney Lawes, who was forced to withdraw before the kick-off with a groin strain, will be fit to feature in the bear pit that will be Limerick.
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Scorers: Northampton: Tries: Ashton (43min), Dowson (54), Dickson (60), Clarke (80). Conversions: Geraghty 3, Myler. Penalty goals: Geraghty 2 (26, 36).
Scoring sequence (Northampton first): 3-0, 6-0 (half-time), 13-0, 20-0, 27-0, 34-0.
Northampton: B Foden; C Ashton, J Clarke, J Downey (rep: C Mayor, 60), B Reihana; S Geraghty (rep: S Myler, 64), L Dickson (rep: A Dickens, 64); S Tonga’uiha (rep: J Vickers, 64), D Hartley (rep: B Sharman, 64), B Mujati, I Fern?ndez Lobbe (rep: C Day, 55), J Kruger, P Dowson, N Best (rep: S Gray, 60), R Wilson.
Perpignan: P Burger (rep: D M?l?, 55); A Plante, C Manas, G Hume, J Michel; S Meyer (sin-bin, 16-26; rep: N Laharrague, 47), F Cazanave; S Chobet (rep: J Schuster, 55), G Guirado (rep: C Geli, 55), B Bourrust (rep: K Pulu, 47), Y Vivalda (rep: R Tchale Watchou, 64), R ?lvarez Kairelis, B Guiry, J P Perez, G Le Corvec (rep: Y Parent, 63).
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
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Attendance: 13,081.