Match Report: Northampton Saints 26 – 43 Ealing Trailfinders

James Ramm’s hat-trick wasn’t enough to fire Northampton Saints into the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals as Ealing Trailfinders claimed a 26-43 victory at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

The lead changed hands five times in the first period with seven tries being registered. Ramm crossed twice for Saints either side of a George Hendy effort, but it was the Championship visitors who were ahead at the break with four tries and a penalty for good measure. 

Iakopo Mapu’s red card early into the second half hampered Saints’ hopes of a comeback as Trailfinders added two more tries to move comfortably clear and book a place in the last-four, before Ramm completed his treble late on.

FIRST HALF

Ealing enjoyed a perfect start to proceedings, scoring two tries in the opening four minutes, with former Saintsman Tom Collins (#1927) in the thick of the action. Firstly, he went within metres of the line before being illegally hauled down. With penalty advantage, Lefty Zigiriadis muscled his way over close to the left upright. 

From a lineout on halfway, the visitors struck again as Collins arched a run through a gap in the defence, before completing a one-two with Tobi Wilson to cross the line against his former employers. 

Saints struck back with their first foray into the attacking 22. From a thrice reset scrum, Rory Hutchinson teased the defence and teed up Hendy to roll over and finish for his eighth try in 12 games this season. 

After 14 minutes, the hosts were ahead. With Reuben Bird-Tulloch in the sinbin for a deliberate knock on, Hutchinson whipped it wide for Hendy to fix his man and free Ramm to race for the line. Stand-in fly-half Hutchinson added a second conversion, this time for the right touchline. 

Ealing briefly wrestled back their lead through Dan Jones’ penalty, only to fall behind a minute later as Emmanuel Iyogun’s offload set Tom James off on a side-stepping run into the 22 and freed Ramm for his second try of the afternoon.

The seesaw nature of the half continued as a slick attacking play saw Mike Willemse’s stampeding run bravely stopped by James five metres out. Trailfinders kept their composure and after multiple drives from close range, tighthead prop Davis forced his way over. 

Jones added the extras and was back over the tee five minutes before the break as Bird-Tulloch raced in from 40 metres out, as Trailfinders took a ten-point lead into the changing rooms.

SECOND HALF

Saints’ hopes of a second-half comeback were dealt a massive blow seconds after the restart when Mapu saw red for a high tackle.

Trailfinders immediately capitalised as Tobi Wilson chipped in behind, regathered and put Collins in under the posts. Then it was Angus Kernohan’s turn to finish down the right wing, with a pair of Jones conversions opening a 24-point advantage with half-an-hour remaining.

Saints rung the changes introducing Juarno Augustus to proceedings and fellow South African Burger Odendaal returned to action for the first time since the Gallagher Premiership final in June 2024. The South African centred wasted little time in leaving his mark with a couple of shuddering tackles in midfield. 

The final quarter of the contest played out with Saints largely on the back foot and inside their own half, until Ramm landed his third try with a fleet-footed break through centre field to dot down under the posts.

Trailfinders progress to take on Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park next weekend, while Phil Dowson’s side now turn their attentions to the visit of Leicester Tigers as Gallagher Premiership rugby returns to cinch Stadium on Friday 21 March.

LINE UPS:

Saints: 15 Hendy, 14 Ramm, 13 Litchfield, 12 Savala, 11 Seabrook, 10 Hutchinson, 9 James; 1 Iyogun, 2 Wright, 3 Green, 4 Munga, 5 Lockett, 6 Scott-Young (c), 7 Brown, 8 Mapu.
Replacements: 16 Langdon, 17 West, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Prowse, 20 Augustus, 21 J Garside, 22 Odendaal, 23 Glister.

Trailfinders: 15 Wilson, 14  Kernohan, 13 Bird-Tulloch, 12 Moore, 11 Collins, 10 Jones, 9 Hampson; 1 Zigiriadis, 2 Willemse (c), 3 Davis, 4 De Wee, 5 Lonsdale, 6 Farrar, 7 Reid, 8  Bridge.
Replacements: 16 Cornish, 17 Whyte, 18 Alo, 19 Cutmore, 20 Newman, 21 Williams, 22 Worboys, 23 Dykes.