A young Northampton Saints side booked their place in next week’s finals of the JP Morgan Asset Management Premier Rugby Sevens with three wins out of three in Group C at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday evening.
A crowd of 7,087 – the highest of series so far – was in attendance as the home side’s Academy youngsters saw them defeat Gloucester, Bath and runners-up Exeter Chiefs to claim the silverware and a cheque for £10,000
They were up against Gloucester first, who went close to opening the scoring in the first minute when Apo Satala set clear Tom Jarvis, only for him to be denied thanks to a last gasp tackle from John Brake.
Instead it was the hosts who went over first, with Jamie Elliott sprinting in from 30 metres out and fending off Jake Carter to score an unconverted try in the corner.
Brake again was on hand to deny Gloucester a try, this time halting Carter ten metres out. But the Cherry and Whites were soon in front with three minutes left in the first half. Satala’s offload on halfway found Tim Stevenson and he then fed Carter to score behind the posts, with Dan Robson converting.
Right on the stroke of half time, Robson made it 12-5 to Gloucester after sprinting the length of the field to score a try. However, he put his attempt for the extra two points wide.
Saints surged forward in the second half and Gloucester soon found themselves temporarily down to six men after Ryan Mills was sin binned for a tackle off the ball. It was during this period that Northampton were able to level when Simon Hunt passed infield to James Rodwell, who touched down behind the posts to give Charlie Sadler a simple conversion.
Robson was then held up in goal and Paul Jarvis knocked on while attempting to ground the ball, with Hunt punishing Gloucester’s wastefulness by racing in from half way during the dying seconds to give see Saints open with a 17-12 win.
Northampton’s next opponents Bath were soundly beaten 26-5 by Premiership newcomers Exeter Chiefs, who featured no less than five first team regulars in their squad. The impressive Chiefs also ended Gloucester’s participation in the competition with a 19-14 victory.
An error-strewn first half in the wet conditions saw it finish all squad between Saints and Bath at the interval in game four. However, it was only thanks to Brake’s diving tackle that forced Paul Roberts into touch.
Northampton promptly broke the deadlock within a minute of the restart when Hunt powered in to score under the posts from nearly 60 metres out, with Sadler duly adding the extras.
Hunt then turned provider two minutes later, picking out Sadler who broke down the blind side before coming in field to go over for a second converted try. Brake added a third less than a minute later when Rodwell offloaded to him in the tackle to send the scrum half over in the corner.
Jamie Collins got Bath on the score sheet with a converted try after time had expired, but the 19-7 win for Northampton booked their place in the finals next week and meant their match against Exeter would decide the group winner.
The warm-up to the group decider saw Gloucester thump Bath 47-0, and for Exeter the showdown with the Saints got off to the worst possible start when Drew Locke was red carded for a spear tackle on.
Northampton then took the lead with less than a minute left in the first half after Ryan Glynn broke from inside his own 22 and raced deep into enemy territory, putting through Tom Powell to score. At the other end, Brake again put in another try saving tackle, this time on Eoghen Grace to ensure the Saints led 5-0 at the interval.
Powell added his and the home side’s second of the night one minute into the second half, but Mike Canty ensured Northampton would not have it all their own way by responding with a try of his own in the corner.
It was Saints captain Glynn who sealed the victory in the final three minutes, touching down under the posts with Sadler converting, although there was still time for Canty to grab another unconverted score for the Chiefs in the 17-12 win.
Northampton and Exeter will now battle it out with Saracens, Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks in Bath next Friday to be crowned champions of the inaugural Premier sevens tournament.
