Northampton Get Off to Winning Start on Premiership Return

Dylan Hartley came off the replacements' bench to break the deadlock for Northampton against Worcester and ensure a winning return to the Guinness Premiership. Northampton won 21-13 thanks to try from Hartley and Jon Clarke, with Bruce Reihana adding three penalties and one conversion.

Hartley, the only Saints player in England manager Martin Johnson's full squad, had to play second fiddle to Paul Shields when his club director of rugby Jim Mallender named his squad for the opening match of the season. But Hartley made an almost immediate impression after replacing Shields in the 48th minute, accepting a long pass from the young scrum-half Lee Dickson and crashing through a tackle before stretching for the touchdown.

The try came after Worcester had been temporarily reduced to 14 men when the flanker Tom Wood was yellow-carded for an infringement, allowing the Northampton skipper Reihana to level the scores at 6-6 with his second penalty. It was a costly offense for Worcester as Mallender also used the break in play to send on Hartley.

Northampton, who stormed through National Division One unbeaten last season, capitalized when the center Clarke went through for their second try in the 66th minute. Taking a pass from the number eight Roger Wilson, the new recruit from Ulster had a clear run to the line.

Worcester, with the former Australia full-back Chris Latham making his Premiership debut, finally made an attacking impression as the hooker Aleki Lutui went through the home defence for a 72nd-minute try, converted by the new fly-half Matthew Jones. But Reihana's third penalty, in the 76th minute, secured a deserved victory for his side.

Northampton (3) 21Tries: Hartley, Clarke Cons: Reihana Pens: Reihana 3

Worcester (6) 13Tries: Lutui Cons: Jones Pens: Jones 2