Sharp Smith gives Saints extra edge

Northampton Saints……41pts

Tries: Coles 5, Ramm 12, 46, Freeman 61, Sleightholme 68

Conversions: Smith 5, 12, 46, 62, 69

Penalties: Smith 17, 51

Saracens ………………………30pts

Tries: McFarland 18, Earl 56, Lewington 79, 80

Conversions: Farrell 19, 56

Penalties: Farrell 24, 43

AN assured display from Fin Smith helped Northampton to maintain their play-off push after that 52-21 thrashing at Bristol last week.

Smith took a lead role by kicking 16 points and using his deft handling skills to complete a Premiership double over Saracens this season.

After walloping Harlequins 52-7 last week, Saracens paid for a slow start in which Northampton sped into a 17-0 lead to grab a winning edge.

Now the test for Northampton is to repeat this high level of intensity when Munster visit in the Champions Cup on Sunday while Saracens must regroup for a trip to Bordeaux on Saturday.

Northampton boss Phil Dowson said: “We had to respond after the Bristol defeat and we did. But we now have to do it again – that's the challenge. We were all disappointed last week and the response was clear to see. We want to speak with our actions.”

With an out-of-sorts Owen Farrell substituted in the 70th minute to protect the former England captain's dodgy hamstring, this was a night when England fans saw Smith's full potential, perhaps for the first time.

Dowson has seen Smith, 21, grow in confidence over the past year and is delighted the flyhalf is learning to meet the demands of enduring the ups and downs of professional rugby.

“He's getting more and more mature and his game management is really impressive,” Dowson added about a player who helped lead the debrief into the Bears nightmare.

Besides his excellent place kicking of seven from seven, Smith's passing was the delight. He followed up his first-half pass for Coles' try by making a second try for full-back James Ramm just after half-time when Saints replied to how Saracens had fought back to be only 17-13 down.

The best moment for Smith, though, came in the 61st minute when Tommy Freeman sped onto his midfield link to cut open the Saracens defence for a fourth try.

Smith's only mistakes were a ragged attempt at a drop goal, just before Freeman burst through, and a late yellow card for kicking the ball away after he had been penalised.

That absence backfired on Northampton as Saracens grabbed two late tries by wing Alex Lewington to earn a bonus point. However, overall Saracens endured an uncomfortable match where they threatened but never quite matched Northampton's sharpness.

Farrell was at his strongest in guiding Saracens back into contention after that poor start. A try from lock Theo McFarland – charging down a clearance from Alex James – started the turn-around which was followed by a Farrell conversion and two penalty goals.

Saracens also had a further chance in the second half to take command but a converted try from substitute Ben Earl, from another charge-down situation, was ruined by Lewington's yellow card for a deliberate knock down.

That helped Northampton to take charge once more through Freeman's score and a fifth try when Sleightholme scooted clear by pouncing on Farrell's stray pass.

Farrell was replaced straight afterwards looking rueful about a sixth defeat of the season which leaves them seven points behind leaders Saints.