Northampton 24 London Irish 22

The Guinness Premiership match between Northampton and London Irish at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday Jan 2, 2010.

Chris Ashton, the man of the moment with nine tries in his last five games, delivered a dramatic last-minute victory for Saints with sharply taken try under the posts.

Better still he produced the rabbit out of the hat in front of England coaches Brian Smith and John Wells and a call-up for the Six Nations squad - to be announced on Jan 13 - draws ever closer.

As the final scrum of the game formed close to the right touchline, Ashton drifted in unobtrusively and caught replacement fly-half Shane Geraghty's eye.

Words were not exchanged but something was cooking and so it proved with Geraghty heading back infield and finding Ashton cutting a dangeorus line. The ball bobbled agonisingly but Ashton hung on and plunged over close to the posts. All that was required was for Geraghty to complete the formaliities and Northampton were home and hosed.

That was excitement enough but the entire second half was a terrific spectacle, bristling Premiership rugby at it best. All of which was in marked contrast to a turgid opening 40 minutes as a much anticipated game threatened to disappoint.

The Northampton groundstaff produced an absolutely immaculate surface despite a wintry fortnight or so but the first half, at very best, could be described as gritty with the two respective fly-halves - Stephen Myler and Chris Malone - taking centre stage with their kicking, out of hand and at goal.

Just briefly, in the opening ten minutes, the game flared promisingly but soon settled down into the kick fest we have grown accustomed to this season. Both teams possess an "all-court" game and are capable of so much better but it was Premiership points not public approval they were after so we just had to strap in and ride it out.

Three penalties to Malone, two from Myler and thankfully the half-time whistle. As if flicking a switch marked "Go" Northampton immediately upped the intensity after the break and the crowd suddenly got involved which is always part of the equation at Franklin's Gardens.

Phil Dowson forced his way over from a line-out and suddenly they were pouring forward and Irish replied in much more animiated fashion. Game on.

Ashton set off on a probing run down the right, Paul Diggin produced two clever kicks into the corner but it was the Irish who struck next with a dramatic 80-yard interception try from Peter Hewat.

Saints had been pressing hard when Ben Foden launched a long, possibly try-scoring, pass to Ashton which Hewat read beautifully to race upfield, doing well to shrug of the attentions of the covering Diggin. Malone improved the situation by adding the extras and then slotted a penalty in front of the posts and a sharply taken dropped goal.

Myler clawed three points back before departing to accommodate Geraghty who missed one long range effort but recovered his poise with a nicely struck effort from the right touchline. The clock was kicking but Northampton were swarming all over the game and their endeavours were eventually rewarded with Ashton's timely effort.