At least Northampton have one worry less in the run-up to Saturday's European Cup final against Munster at Twickenham. Win or lose, they will have a slot in next season's competition thanks to the grinding attrition of their forwards at Kingston Park, Newcastle. It is a measure of their slumping form that not too long ago Northampton were chasing a unique treble but after threatening to achieve so much they had to work hard for a win achieved yesterday in a style hardly befitting potential European champions.
John Steele, their director of rugby, was understandably pleased that the pressure was now lifted: "It has been a great season with some superb games. Now we can tell ourselves we can top all that and become European champions." The priority as Saturday's final approaches will be rest and repair for his overworked players; the England scrum-half Matt Dawson will see a specialist tomorrow to decide whether his injured shoulder requires surgery. He will not start on Saturday if there are fears that further damage could be caused.
With Jonny Wilkinson missing due to shoulder and chest injuries, there was no repetition of last month's episode when Gloucester arrived here needing a win to clinch a place in Europe and were made to wait a little longer by the England fly-half.
In the end Northampton's forward domination, coupled with the kicking from hand of Paul Grayson brought the visitors victory by four tries to two as the huge amount of possession and territory they enjoyed finally brought its reward. But their game plan was one-dimensional and more will be needed to overcome Munster.
The young Newcastle backs caught the eye. Forced to live off scraps Newcastle spun the ball wide and tries to Jamie Noon and Tom May were their reward.
Grayson's second minute penalty and a 16th minute try for Ali Hepher gave Northampton the initiative and they sealed victory with three tries after the interval for scrumhalf Dom Malone, the England wing Ben Cohen, and the reserve hooker Steve Walter.
Scorers: Newcastle: Tries: Noon, May. Conversions: Walder 2. Penalties: Walder 3. Northampton: Tries: Hepher, Malone, Cohen, Walter. Conversions: Grayson 3. Penalties: Grayson 2.
Newcastle: Stephenson; Wood, Noon, May, Tuigamala; Walder, Armstrong (capt); Peel (Ward, 62min), Howe, Hurter, Rule (Vyvyan, h-t), Weir, O'Neill (Holmes, 62), Devonshire, Beattie.
Northampton: Grayson; Moir, Bateman, Allen (Northey, 62), Cohen; Hepher, Malone; Pagel, Mendez (Walter, 64), Stewart (Scelzo, 50), Newman, Rodber (capt; Phillips, 50), MacKinnon, Pountney, Seely.
Referee: S Lander (Liverpool).
