Northampton 28-24 Saracens: Premiership Rugby result as Saints shock Sarries to hinder top-four chances

For much of their penultimate Premiership match of the season, Saracens seemed set to move into fourth spot, but a late rally from Northampton has left them needing results to fall their way on the last day of the season.

Tarek Haffar had scored just two tries in his previous 37 matches, but came off the replacements' bench to turn the match in his side's favour with a late double, which - plus a penalty try - turned around a seemingly insurmountable 17-point lead Sarries' enjoyed when Rotimi Segun touched down shortly after the break.

The first half had been all Saracens after Joshua Kemeny's early try, latching onto a fantastic dribble kick from Fin Smith, with Tom Willis, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Alex Goode scoring to put the visitors firmly in control.

Haffar's first try brought things close and then a penalty try for illegally stopping the Saints maul heading over the try line - and the ensuing sending off of Andy Christie gave the home side hope. Though there was a nervous wait to see if there was a forward pass in the build-up, Haffar's try brought a huge roar from the home crowd.

Saracens now lie sixth in the table, two points behind Bristol and below Gloucester on points difference, so they will now be long odds to make the playoffs.

Tommy Freeman said his side will need to be in better form if they are to get the better of Bordeaux in the European Cup Final next week.

"We didn't come out swinging in the first half, but the second half was very good," Freeman said on TNT Sports.

"We'll take a lot of positives away and go back and learn, as we know we've got a big challenge ahead of us next week. We've got a lot more [quality] than that.

"It shows the depth we've got in our squad. We can trust these guys, they're doing what they do in training."

They lie sixth in the table and will have to rely on Bristol and Gloucester dropping points to reach the playoffs.

Saracens had the game won but two late tries from Haffar turned the game on its head.

Gloss is put on the scoreline.

The Franklin Gardens rise to applaud the decision.

Haffar brushes off a couple of would-be tacklers and races over the line. Was Litchfield's pass in the build up forward though?

We aree passed 80 minutes and they are in Saracens' half.

He takes a high ball in the air and gets within ten metres of the line, but as the Saints converge on him, they manage to turn over the ball.

So the Saints have a man extra for the rest of the match. This is getting interesting.

Just a penalty or drop goal in it now.

Now they do get a penalty try. The rolling maul reached the try line and with Saracens defending it illegally a try was awarded.

But not a penalty try. He was caught in the air by the tackler, but was not being denied a try according to the man in aqua blue.

And Litchfield grabs it before the corner flag but then flings it inside where Sarries can gather.

Again the Saints are deep into Saracens' territory, can they make it pay?

Tough maul defence and tackling forced the home side to go from side to side but they could not get through.

Saracens were punished for not driving straight from a lint out and now the Saints can look to drive over the line.

A long kick got a bounce in Seabrook's favor on the try line and van Zyl slips but he failed to pick it up and the relieved Sarries scrum-half clears.

An easy kick to close the gap to 10.

Coles got close tothe line and then as it was recycled the ball was fed to Haffar who ploughed over the line - in his last home game at Franklin Gardens.