Rugby Union: Saints' magnificent seven

Harlequins 17 Northampton 24

IN THE end the seminal moment for Northampton came not so much with Pat Lam's match-winning try four minutes from time (as important as that was), but rather in the 28th minute of a bruising Allied Dunbar Premiership encounter when Northampton were reduced to 14 men.

Jon Phillips, the Saints lock, was dispatched to the sin-bin for 10 minutes for raking Keith Wood. Northampton's director of rugby, Ian McGeechan, eschewed the option of bringing on a replacement forward and taking off a back to ensure a full house up front; instead he gambled on the remaining forwards to dig deeper and make up for the temporary absence of Phillips.

It almost did not pay off. Harlequins' eight rumbled up and after a succession of shuddering scrums, the weakened Saints pack folded and Quins were awarded a penalty try. But the seven rallied magnificently, thundered back up field, won a penalty and some five phases. After scrum-half Matt Dawson's tap to himself the England outside-half, Paul Grayson, carved out a gap between Rory Jenkins and Jason Leonard, and touched down close enough to the posts to make his subsequent conversion a formality.

The psychological lift that score and two uncharacteristic penalty misses by Harlequins' kicking machine, John Schuster - with 82 successful kicks at goal from 101 attempts this season and a total now of 247 points - before the half-time whistle, were enough to ensure a swing in fortunes.

"That try was the defining moment of the game," admitted John Gallagher, Harlequins' director of rugby. "We should have been a couple of scores up by half-time. But instead we let Grayson in for a pretty soft try and failed to take advantage of their being one man down and they then played well in the second half, well enough to deserve victory."

Grayson had not trained all week because of flu and his performance at No 10 was all the more remarkable. True he had the quick-witted and ever- dangerous Dawson supplying him with a stream of useful possession, but even so that had to be used correctly and Grayson did just that.

He has grown in confidence throughout this season. Even the setback of injury against Australia, which meant he missed the glorious win over South Africa a week later, has not disturbed his inner belief. Bath's Mike Catt took over from Grayson but the Northampton man is relaxed about the situation and said: "Catty and I have been backwards and forwards in the England side, and we know how hard each other is working. And there is also Alex King, of Wasps, to contend with. No one is a clear favourite for the position."

Grayson, it has to be said, looked the part. He may not be the man in possession, but these days has self-possession and poise. He glows with confidence. He has always played a more all-round game for his club, but these days he is showing that important commodity which is critical to survival at the very top - adaptability. He is now experienced enough and knowledgeable enough to know what to do and when to do it.

He will always be known for his kicking game, out of hand or at goal, but Grayson is turning into an all-rounder. For all that even he was left speechless with admiration when Harlequins increased their lead in the second half with a drop goal. It came not from the boot of Thierry Lacroix, their fly-half, nor from their captain and No 8, Zinzan Brooke, who has had the drop in Test matches for New Zealand.

No, this drop goal, perfectly executed from 25 metres, was directed over the bar by Wood, Quins' hooker, who apparently practises them in every warm-up session. It was a superbly struck kick and served to underline the immense footballing brain and skill of the Ireland international. The pity of it was that it was not the decisive score.

That came after another string of lung-bursting, wearying scrums close to the Quins' line, when the classy Lam picked up and slipped under the futile, flailing arms of the few defenders alert to the danger in the 76th minute.

It brought to a brutal end an unbeaten home run at The Stoop this season and ensured second-placed Northampton keep up the pressure on the leaders, Leicester.

Harlequins: Tries Schuster, penalty try; Conversions Schuster 2; Drop goal Wood. Northampton: Tries Grayson, Pagel, Lam; Conversions Grayson 3; Penalty Grayson.

Harlequins: J Williams; D O'Leary, J Keyter (P Mensah, 66), J Schuster, D Luger; T Lacroix, H Harries (N Walshe, 76); J Leonard, K Wood, G Halpin (D Barnes, 66), G Morgan (W Davison, 78), G Llewellyn, Z Brooke (capt), C Sheasby, R Jenkins.

Northampton: N Beal; C Moir, A Blyth, M Allen, B Cohen; P Grayson, M Dawson (capt); G Pagel, F Mendez, M Stewart (M Hynes, 62), R Metcalfe, J Phillips, G Seely, P Lam, B Pountney.

Referee: S Lander (Liverpool).