Northampton 25 Newcastle 13

The Guinness Premiership game between Northampton and Newcastle at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday Feb 13 2010.

Chris Ashton responded to his England omission with a sparkling two-try display as Northampton saw off the gutsy challenge of Newcastle.

No longer just a poacher, the 22-year-old wing offered himself up as a midfield threat and was a constant presence on his team-mates’ shoulders in support.

But it was from his regular position on the right flank where he opened the scoring after Bruce Reihana had put him away down the short side.

Newcastle responded in strong fashion by sticking to their strengths up front and got their reward when Rob Vickers burrowed over following a destructive 15-metre rolling maul.

With Jimmy Gopperth at the fore, it looked as if the visitors would stamp their authority on the game but Juandre Kruger stretched over to finish a flowing Northampton move on the stroke of half-time.

Gopperth and Stephen Myler traded penalties but it was left to Ashton to provide the only try of an otherwise edgy second period. He found himself in the right place at the right time to take an offload from Kruger for his 11th try in the league.

Jim Mallinder, Northampton’s director of rugby, responded to his wing’s performance by backing Ashton to break through for England. “He’s not far off now. He feels he’s a serious contender to play international rugby,” said Mallinder.

Match details

Scores: 5-0 Ashton try, 7-0 Myler con, 7-3 Gopperth pen, 10-3 Myler pen, 10-8 Vickers try, 10-10 Gopperth con, 15-10 Kruger try, 18-10 Myler pen, 18-13 Gopperth pen, 23-13 Ashton try, 25-13 Myler con.

Northampton: B Reihana; C Ashton, J Clarke (C Mayor 71), J Downey, P Diggin; S Myler (S Geraghty 77), L Dickson (A Dickens 71); S Tonga’uiha, B Sharman (A Long 71), B Mujati (D Morris 72), C Lawes (I Fernandez-Lobbe 59), J Kruger, P Dowson, N Best, R Wilson (M Easter 59).
Newcastle: A Tait; D Williams, G Bobo, T Tu’ipulotu (R Vickerman 68), C Amesbury; J Gopperth, M Young (C Pilgrim 77); J Golding (G Shiells 68), R Vickers, C Hayman, J Hudson, T Swinson (M Sorenson 63), J Afu, B Wilson, F Levi (P Browne 30).
Referee: D Richards (RFU).