The stakes were high, and happily for those who witnessed the Premiership’s latest end-to-end thriller, so was the level of entertainment. Harlequins demonstrated their endless fighting spirit before James Grayson’s long-range 77th-minute penalty edged Saints past the champions and secured a fifth consecutive league win. Northampton must still play Saracens and Newcastle, and are building what appears to be unstoppable momentum.
Marshalled superbly by their scrum-half, Alex Mitchell, the Saints attack was irresistible, despite losing three of their pack to injury before half-time. Their lines of running and joined-up approach threatened to overwhelm Quins before Tabai Matson’s side battled back into the lead after the break, and into position for the win that would have secured a playoff spot. But the Saints go marching on.
