Saints roar into final with nine-try salvo
RORY Hutchinson provided the inspiration as Northampton recovered from a nightmare start to rampage their way into the final.
Saints will host Saracens in March's climax but that outcome looked unlikely when they shipped three tries to trail 21-0 after 13 minutes.
However, a scintillating display from outside-centre Hutchinson lit the touchpaper as Saints rocketed in nine tries past shellshocked Falcons.
Hutchinson said: “Slow starts have been a feature and we were under the cosh, but we got back into it and our game started working. It's brilliant, it will be my first final and we'll all look forward to playing Saracens now.”
Newcastle struck two minutes in, Vereniki Goneva breaking clear before handing on to Zach Kibirige, who sent Tane Takulua to the line.
Northampton looked to have survived further Falcons pressure but George Furbank's forward pass handed back possession and, after Nemani Nagusa, Tevita Cavubati and Callum Chick had punched holes, Josh Matavesi scythed over.
Saints lost skipper Teimana Harrison to a tight hamstring and worse followed for the home side as Brett Connon and Matavesi engineered space for Goneva, who stepped inside James Grayson for a third Newcastle try.
Saints required a kick-start and Hutchinson provided it on 28 minutes, receiving the ball from James Grayson well inside his own half before racing past Andrew Davidson and Tom Arscott before laying on a simple finish for Furbank.
However, home joy was short-lived as Goneva stooped to collect a low Matavesi pass before dabbing through for Kibirige to notch try number four.
Naiyaravoro twice went on the charge as Saints fought back and when Jamie Gibson found space on the right, he sent in Ahsee Tuala.
Hutchinson ripped through the Falcons midfield as Saints sought a further riposte and an astonishing first-half reached a thrilling conclusion as Api Ratuniyarawa offloaded to Tom Wood, who in turn sent Lewis Ludlam under the posts.
Newcastle led 28-21 at the break but Northampton bagged a third try in six minutes soon after the restart when Gibson ploughed his way over. Grayson failed to convert but Saints were in full cry and another period of intense pressure produced a try for James Fish.
Four tries in 11 minutes had turned the game on its head but Falcons responded when, after Alex Dunbar broke clear and Goneva was held up, the ball went wide from the scrum and Chris Harris flew over to tie the scores at 33-33.
There was no let up as Wood went on the charge and Naiyararavoro put Northampton back in front from Alex Mitchell's smart pass.
Grayson converted off a post and, with the wind firmly in their sails, Saints made the game safe. Heinrich Brussow struck from a lineout drive before Luther Burrell strolled over from Grayson's pass and Brussow bagged his second.
CLOSE-UP
Chick ruled the roost in the first-half and was a forceful presence at the breakdown and in defence as Falcons built their early lead. However, Ludlam fully lived up to his billing as a future England No.7 as he took charge from the 30-minute mark. Along with Tom Wood, he was an omnipotent presence as Saints piled on the pressure, rivalling Hutchinson as star man.
