Leinster 20-15 Northampton: James Lowe scores hat-trick as Irish club hold off Saints comeback to reach final
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Updated 04/05/2024 at 20:34 GMT+1
James Lowe scored a fine hat-trick as Leinster held off a late fightback from Northampton Saints to reach the Investec Champions Cup final for a third season in a row. Lowe scored the first of his treble in the first half before crossing the line once more shortly after the break. George Hendy and Tom Seabrook scored tries to give Northampton late hope but Leinster battled to the win.
‘It’s hat-trick time’ – Lowe finishes in the corner to create Champions Cup history
A James Lowe hat-trick was enough for Leinster to book their place into a third straight Investec Champions Cup final following a 20-17 victory over Northampton Saints.
However, after a slow start the Saints came storming back with 14 unanswered points in the last 20 minutes courtesy of George Hendy Tom Seabrook tries.
But Northampton couldn’t pull off a dramatic fightback, and in front of a competition record crowd of 82,300 at Croke Park, the hosts held on to progress into the final.
Buoyed on by a huge home following, Leinster started with a bang as Lowe crossed the whitewash twice inside the opening 14 minutes.
In contrast the Saints were full of first-half errors and it took them 39 minutes to get onto the scoresheet through a Fin Smith penalty.
The Saints grew into the match and two tries pulled them back to three points resulting in six dramatic final minutes.
However, Leinster hung on and will face either Toulouse or Harlequins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the final on Saturday, May 25.
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‘Something almost horrific happened’ – Lowe reacts after Leinster sneak past Northampton
Talking Point – Saints leave response too late
Northampton Saints will be reflecting on what could have been as they struggled to get going in front of the huge crowd at Croke Park.
The Gallagher Premiership Rugby leaders looked nervous and their normal free-flowing play was littered with errors as Leinster took control.
However, once George Hendy opened the Saints’ account the hosts looked under pressure and Tom Seabrook pulled the visitors back into the clash with six minutes remaining.
The tie could have easily swung the other way but the Saints ran out of minutes on the clock as Leinster breathed a sight of relief.
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Seabrook goes over as Northampton threaten late comeback against Leinster
Player of the Match - James Lowe
The left winger was in electric form during the first 14 minutes scoring two tries as he ghosted past the Northampton defence.
His third try after half-time would prove key in Leinster booked their place in the final and saw out a late Northampton fightback.
Player Ratings
Leinster: Frawley 8, Larmour 7, Henshaw 7, Osborne 6, Lowe 8, R Byrne 8, Gibson-Park 7, Porter 7, Sheehan 7, Furlong 7, Molony 6, McCarthy 6, Baird 7, Van der Flier 7, Doris 7
Replacements: Kelleher 6, Healy 6, Ala’alatoa 6, Jenkins 6, Conan 7, M Byrne 6, O’Brien 6
Northampton Saints: Furbank 7, Ramm 7, Freeman 6, Dingwall 6, Hendy 6, Smith 7, Mitchell 7, Waller 7, Langdon 6, Davison 6, Moon 7, Coles 6, Lawes 8, Graham 7, Augustus 7
Replacements: Matavesi 6, Iyogun 6, Millar-Mills 6, Mayanavanua 7, Scott-Young 6, James 6, Litchfield 6, Seabrook 7
Match Highlights
11' - TRY! LEINSTER 7 (LOWE) NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 0: Miscommunication in the Saints’ defence sees Geoge Hendy knock in on and Leinster a scrum deep in their opponent’s half. Leinster charge forward during several phases before Park plays a quick penalty out wide to Lowe to cross. Byrne adds the extra with a clean conversion from a tight angle.
14' - TRY! LEINSTER 12 (LOWE) NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 0: A line-out is driven to the line and despite Doris being held up on the line the ball is popped back up to Park who finds Lowe to cross. Byrne’s conversion looks good and then swerves and hits the post.
29' - BYRNE KICKS PENALTY: Saints were penalised for collapsing their own scrum resulting in a penalty in front of their own posts. Byrne makes no mistake taking the score out to 15-0.
39' - SMITH KICKS PENALTY: The visitors move the ball quickly out wide but the final pass by Furbank is just behind Raam. However, play is pulled back for an earlier penalty and Smith makes it 15-3.
43' - TRY! LEINSTER 20 (LOWE) NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 3: A surging run by Baird drives Leinster up the pitch. The ball comes out to Henshaw who just loses his feet. However, the ball is played out to the other wing when Lowe is on hand to cross the whitewash. Byrne sends his conversion inches wide of the posts.
58 - TRY! LEINSTER 20 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 10 (HENDY): The ball is played out wide to Hendy who chips over the top and a Leinster handling error allows the Saints man to regain the ball and crash over. Smith makes the conversion to pull Saints back to 10 points.
74 - TRY! LEINSTER 20 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 17 (SEABROOK): Northampton make their pressure count and Smith spins the ball out for Seabrook to cross. Smith then kicks a difficult conversion to draw his side within three points.
Key Stats
- Leinster won 12 turnovers compared to Northampton Saints’ 10
- Cian Healy broke a competition record as he came on for his 111th Champions Cup appearance.
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