European Rugby Champions Cup: Northampton claim six tries in Treviso triumph
By Ben Hampshire | @BH92
Last Updated: 06/12/14 5:25pm
Reigning Aviva Premiership champions Northampton Saints gave their European Rugby Champions Cup chances a shot in the arm with a 38-15 bonus-point victory over Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday.
Samoa Manoa, Alex Waller, Ben Foden, Luther Burrell and George Pisi all crossed the whitewash and Northampton were also awarded a penalty try as they moved to the Pool 5 summit, level on points with Racing Metro Paris following their draw against Ospreys in Swansea.
Joe Carlisle chalked up 10 points for Treviso and Ludovico Nitoglia claimed his third try of the tournament, but their efforts were in vain as Northampton outclassed their hosts on Italian soil.
Northampton travelled to Italy as firm favourites and Jim Mallinder’s side made their intentions known from the off as they pressurised the Treviso defence and earned a series of penalties.
With the momentum in their favour, Stephen Myler refused to take three points and set up the line-outs for Saints and Treviso could not prevent the inevitable.
Uncompromising back-rower Manoa took three defenders over the line with him as he chalked up Northampton’s first try of the match, which Myler duly converted.
Then came an unexpected break in play as Peter Fitzgibbon, the Irish referee, fell to the floor with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and his compatriot Leo Colgan left the touchline to take charge of proceedings.
Colgan soon awarded his first penalty in favour of Treviso after Northampton were caught offside and former Worcester and Wasps fly-half Joe Carlisle nailed a 42-metre penalty to get the hosts on the board.
Saints again pressed toward the Treviso line and once again the Italian side buckled under pressure, only this time it saw them reduced to 14 men as Francesco Minto was sent to spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin, despite Colgan initially brandishing the yellow card in Simon Favaro’s direction.
Advantage paid
Northampton made their personnel advantage pay as prop Waller crashed over for the second try, but Myler’s conversion ricocheted off the left upright as the visitors took a 12-3 lead into the break.
The defending Premiership champions may have been accused of lingering in third gear during the first half, but there were no signs of complacency following the restart, with Saints snatching two tries in as many minutes to secure a bonus point.
England centre Burrell, who was ruled out of the Autumn Internationals through injury, first released full-back Foden on the left flank and Myler struck the conversion with a much more convincing effort from out wide.
Birthday boy Burrell then put the icing on the cake for Northampton, racing in under the posts after he was released by flanker Calum Clark before Myler’s third successful conversion opened a 23-point lead for the visitors.
With the bonus-point sealed, Northampton started to loosen up and their experimentation left gaps for Treviso, who seized their opportunity.
A free-flowing move, initiated by Carlisle, led to winger Nitoglia being set free to touch down in the left corner for what always looked like being a consolation try.
Northampton remained in the ascendency and when Treviso’s scrum failed to hold up against the Saints pack the referee awarded a penalty try in favour of the visitors.
When replacement forward Romulo Acosta was shown a yellow card it looked like Treviso’s afternoon was about to get even worse and it did, but not before standout performer Carlisle could claim a try of his own.
George Pisi – on for Burrell in midfield – marked his return from injury with a try in overtime as Northampton raced to the Pool 5 summit alongside Racing.