Champions Cup: Northampton 28-21 Castres
European Champions Cup

Champions Cup: Northampton 28-21 Castres – Harrison stars as Saints win

14 January 2017
Rugby Rucker
  • Northampton edge to a narrow 28-21 win against Castres on Saturday
  • Tries from Teimana Harrison (2) and Stephen Myler gave Saints a healthy 21-8 lead at the break
  • Montpellier fought back to level but Tom Wood’s converted try won it for the hosts
England flanker Tom Wood scored the winning try as Northampton outscored Castres by four tries to three in a 28-21 win at Franklin’s Gardens.

Two tries for England back-rower Teimana Harrison and one from fly-half Stephen Myler opened up a comfortable 21-7 lead for Saints at the break.

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After the restart, the French side found a way back into the game as Alexandre Bias and Julien Dumora carried over for the visitors, with the boot of Rory Kockott topping up their score to bring it level in the second half, 21-21.

Nevertheless, a late try from Tom Wood sealed the bonus-point win for the Saints with Myler completing the scoring from the tee.

The bonus-point win for Saints dented the French side’s hopes of a place in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals.

MANOFTHEMATCH

Northampton: Teimana Harrison

LINE UPS

Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Juan Pablo Estelles, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Harry Mallinder, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Tom Wood (c), 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 James Craig, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ahsee Tuala
Castres: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 David Smith, 10 Julien Dumora, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Maama Vaipulu, 7 Alexandre Bias, 6 Yannick Caballero, 5 Victor Moreaux, 4 Loic Jacquet, 3 Damien Tussac, 2 Jody Jenneker, 1 Mihaita Lazar
Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Antoine Tichit, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 20 Antoine Dupont, 21 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 22 Steve Mafi, 23 Thomas Combezou