Saracens Loose 22-24 To Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints in the Aviva English topflight division conquered London club Saracens Rugby Football Club 24-20 at extra time. The Northampton team who have now won their first ever Aviva premiership took to the Twickenham field against a Saracens team that was still trying to recover from last week's Heineken Cup lose to Toulon RFC of France.

Saints who had been ranked the team with the best goal kicking rate at the premiership trailed Saracens by one point in the extra time, of which it had ended that way, Saracens would be the one with their second Aviva title and make up for their loss in the European Rugby Cup Final at Cardiff last Saturday.

For the first time in Premiership history the final went to extra-time, but it was Saints who prevailed: Northampton's Owen Farrell kicked and scored three penalties earlier while Marcelo Bosch scored a try for Saracens. As Northampton were claiming touchdowns, Saracens were making Tries. After 80 minutes of fierce combat, the score remained 14-14 leading to extra time. Saracen's Charlie Hodgson's scored two penalties in the extra time, which would have landed his team home but for Saints relentless attack and tactical approach from the bench in the introduction of Alex Waller who pressed on to score a Try and a resulting 2 points conversion by Stephen Myler.

A Try in a rugby game awards the team with 5 points and a conversion is two points while a penalty goal is three points. The extra time resumed with the two teams on 14 points each and with more to play if they were to be crowned champions. Saints scored the first extra time point with a penalty goal from Fly-half Stephen Myler but Charlie Hodgson replied with a Saracens penalty goal, leveling the score at 17 appease; after series of substitutions and missed chances at tries, Charlie Hodgson again put the Saracens ahead with another penalty goal in the 92nd minute, putting the London club three points ahead of the Northampton saints at 20-17.

Just when it seemed to be the end for Saints and Saracens believing they had the trophy in their keep for the second time, substitute Alex Waller struck with a surprising run through the defence of Saracens to make the Try that would put them 2 points ahead in the 100th minute; before the conversion kick at the 104th minute from Stephen Myler who skillfully struck the ball past the standing bar in the back line of Saracens finally rested the Aviva trophy in the cabinet of Northampton Saints for the next one season.

Saracens had the trophy just minutes away, if they had kept on and lept at the lead in the extra time, they would have ended with the most prestigious silverware in English rugby.

It was a cruel blow for Saracens and led to them ending a season that promised so much without a trophy as former England forwards Steve Borthwick and Matt Stevens made their farewell appearances.

For the Saints, they can look back on a season where they found that extra momentum at the key time. The Amlin Challenge Cup victory gave them added impetus and they have now completed a rare double as they buried the heartache of last year's final loss to Leicester.

Rugby is a thrilling but cruel sport and the team that keeps it up until the last gasp, wins the game.