Premiership: Northampton Saints 32-31 Harlequins – James Grayson penalty seals dramatic win

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James Grayson
James Grayson’s long-range penalty put Saints in the driving seat for the final play-off place
Northampton (26) 32
Tries: Freeman, Ludlam, Furbank, Waller Cons: Grayson 3 Pens: Grayson 2
Harlequins (17) 31
Tries: Esterhuizen, Jones, Dombrandt, Murley Cons: Smith 4 Pens: Smith

James Grayson’s late penalty helped Northampton beat Harlequins 32-31 and put Saints in with a great chance of making the Premiership play-offs.

Saints sealed a try-scoring bonus point after 35 minutes of an exhilarating first half that saw six tries shared between the two sides.

Alex Dombrandt and Caden Murley scored early in the second period to put Quins ahead for the first time in the game.

But Grayson’s 48-metre kick with four minutes left sent the home crowd wild.

Fourth-placed Saints go six points clear of fifth-placed Exeter, with Grayson’s kick also delaying third-placed reigning champions Harlequins’ hopes of securing a play-off place.

Gloucester could close within a point of Northampton should they claim a bonus-point win over bottom-of-the-table Bath on Saturday.

More to follow.

Northampton: Furbank; Proctor, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman; Grayson, Mitchell; Iyogun, Haywood, Carey, Coles, Ratuniyarawa, Lawes, Ludlam (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Fish, Waller, Hill, Moon, Hinkley, James, Francis, Sleightholme.

Harlequins: Jones; Lynagh, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care; Kerrod, Walker, Louw, Symons, Tizard; Lewies, Lawday, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Musk, Garcia Botta, Collier, Chisholm, Wallace, Gjaltema, Allan, David.

Referee: Matthew Carley

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