Prem
Northampton(33) 66
try: Fischetti 2, Coles 3, Mitchell, Freeman, Todaro 2, F Smith shortcoming: F. Smith 8
Harlequin(14) 21
try: Cleves, Dombrandt 2 shortcoming: M Smith 3
Alex Coles scored a hat-trick as Northampton Saints fired an irresistible 10 tries to beat Harlequins and return to the top of the Premier League table.
Saints broke through the Quin defense almost at will in the first half, with Danilo Fischetti, Coles, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman all on the scoresheet.
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Cassius Cleaves and Alex Dombrandt responded for Quins, but two second-half goals each from Coles and Eduardo Todaro, plus one from Finn Smith, sealed another stunning victory for Saints.
However, they will be concerned about an injury to captain Fraser Dingwall, who was carried off near half-time wearing a neck brace.
Bath moved top of the table with a dramatic win over Exeter earlier in the day, but Northampton fell behind within minutes of the game.
The visitors got the ball into the Saints’ 22 thanks to a quick pass before Marcus Smith eventually found Cleaves on a perfect line to break the home side’s defense before the penalty.
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Both sides then spurned chances, with George Turner inches away from making his first league start before Saints equalized.
A brilliant break down the flanks from George Hendy and James Ramm took them to the Quin backline, but the defense was soon breached by a furious Fischetti.
In-form full-back Hendy was also instrumental in Saints’ second try, isolating the defender with a lovely looping ball before distributing the ball to Lahm, who eventually provided Coles with another fine attacking goal.
Alex Mitchell was a key part of everything Saints did in the first half, including his own shot [Getty Images]
Phil Dawson’s side got a third goal soon after, with Quins unable to cope with the pace of the attack and quick substitutions from Fischetti and Coles freeing forward Mitchell, who reached the line effortlessly.
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Fischetti then caused further pain for Quins by scoring his second goal from the Mitchell defense just before the break to secure the extra point.
Harlequin responded for the second time with a perfectly executed set piece in the 22nd, the ball quickly passing through Chandler Cunningham to Dombrandt, who was left untouched in the corner.
It proved to be only a temporary respite, as Mitchell appeared to have nothing on, weaving around multiple defenders at midfield before passing to Freeman, who eluded Nick David and the Saints went into halftime with a 33-14 lead.
As expected, the game didn’t continue at the same ferocious pace in the second half, but that didn’t stop the Saints from extending their lead.
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Craig Wright was just one of many players to hit Quinn’s line before the ball was passed to Coles, whose close range proved unstoppable.
Todaro then scored, the Italian winger benefiting from further magic by Hendy as he sprinted past unscathed.
Northampton’s eighth shot was more accidental than calculated, with Smith gleefully collecting the ball after Anthony Bello’s pass bounced off Van der Meest’s head.
However, another fine goal followed as Todaro beat four Quins tacklers to secure a brace, before Dombrandt added a second consolation goal after Rodrigo Isguro broke through.
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The game wasn’t over yet for Saints as Coles scored a hat-trick to help the team move back to the top of the table, two points ahead of Bath.
The result leaves Harlequins in eighth place, one point above ninth-placed Gloucester.
“Some great attempts” – reaction
Northampton manager Sam Westie told BBC Radio Northampton:
“We got some good tries in there and got the game moving really quickly and we’re dangerous when we’re like that.
“A little disappointed with our defense in the first half. I thought we were much better at that in the second half.
“Alex Coles is brilliant. He’s always at the end of the line and he’s the best celebrator in the team – he’s always next to the guy who scores the goal but it’s usually him at the end.”
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Fraser Dingwall: “Fraser was up and walking around, smiling and all good in that regard. They (the medical staff) are very careful and if it takes five to six minutes (to treat a player), that’s the right thing to do.”[medics]areuber-carefulandifittakesfiveorsixminutes(totreataplayer)it’stherightthingtodo” [medics)areuber-carefulandifittakesfiveorsixminutes(totreataplayer)it’stherightthingtodo”
Northampton: Hendy; Todaro, Freeman, Dingwall (captain), Lahm; F. Smith, Mitchell; Fischetti, R. Smith, Miller-Mills, Coles, van der Meest, Kemeni, Pearson, Cheek.
Alternatives: Wright, Scola, Quindiona, Prowse, Graham, McParland, Bello, Hutchinson.
clown: David; Isgro, Northmore, Evans, Cleves; Mr. Smith, Friday; Hobson, Turner, H. Williams, Pagadizavar, Treadwell, Cunningham, Cunningham, Dombrandt (captain).
Alternatives: Riley, Crowder, Delgado, E. Williams, Longbury, Carr, Porter, Bradley.
referee: Sarah Cox.
