Beal's feel raises Saints' game

Northampton rediscovered some of their confidence by halting a losing sequence of three games while increasing Harlequins' concerns at their continuing inability to win away from home. Four tries, two of them from Nick Beal, the others from their gifted All Black utility back, Bruce Reihana, and a first-half touchdown by the prop, Brett Sturgess, were sufficient to earn Saints a bonus point, which keeps them in touch with the leaders at the half-way mark in the Premiership.

Before the start both teams occupied the middle ground in the table. Northampton because, for the most part, they have not shown they are capable of much better; Quins because they have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps after something of a horror start to their season. Each has been bedevilled by injuries, though that is only a part of the story. For reason, substitute excuse. You play with what you have.

Never mind the draining demands on the playing strengths of either side by the autumn internationals. Two weeks previously, Leicester were here with a similar number of capped players missing as there were from the Saints' line-up, yet won at a canter, just as the Tigers did against leaders Gloucester nine days ago. Ambition has a fair amount to do with it, self- belief and a resolute attitude of mind even more so.

To some extent Northampton seem to have regained their touch. Their forwards gave the Quins' pack a rare old roasting, while Beal was in ebullient form, as was the exceptional Reihana. The New Zealander got Saints' first try, after Tony Diprose was driven across from a line-out. It was the only time Quins looked like scoring in a game described by their director of rugby, Mark Evans, as: "By a distance, our worst display of the season." Three penalties by Paul Grayson, who also converted Sturgess's try, gave Saints an interval lead of 21-7. As Quins were attempting to rescue something from the game, they were suckered by Reihana's brilliant crossfield hack from Grayson's delicate grubber, to give Beal his first try. Beal's second was the salt in numerous Quins wounds.

Northampton: N Beal; J Sleightholme, C Hyndman, J Leslie (capt), B Reihana; P Grayson, J Howard (I Vass, 56); B Sturgess (K Todd, 72), D Richmond (M Miles, 72), C Budgen, J Phillips (M Lord, 56), R Hunter, A Blowers (S Hepher, 76), D Fox, M Soden.

Harlequins: N Williams; M Moore (U Monye, 62), R Jewell, A Reay, B Gollings; P Burke (S Fitzgerald, 72), S Bemand (M Powell h-t); B Starr, T Fuga, L Gomez (P Cardinali, 63), B Davison (J Evans, h-t), A Codling, A Vos (capt), L Sherriff (K Horstmann, 84), T Diprose.

Referee: R Goodliffe (Sheffield).