Saints keep Premiership play-off hopes alive
NORTHAMPTON kept alive their Aviva Premiership play-off hopes with a come-from-behind 18-15 victory at rivals Exeter on Sunday.
The match was every bit as tight as bookies had anticipated – many firms had made it a choice affair – and Northampton trailed until the 65th minute before a try from Paul Diggin and crucial conversion from Stephen Myler put them in front.
They host Worcester in the final round in two weeks while
Exeter travel to Saracens, who qualify for the play-offs thanks to the Sandy Park result.
The Saints are 6-1 for Twickenham glory with current champions Sarries at 7-2. The Chiefs are now 66-1.
Leicester are 11-10 favourites to win the Grand Final after their thrilling victory over table-toppers Harlequins on Saturday.
Quins are 4-7 for the regular season, and 7-2 for success over the road from their Stoop-base at the end of May, while the Tigers are 15-8 and Sarries are 25-1.
In the Pro12 Glasgow stayed in the play-off hunt thanks to a
narrow win over Treviso in Italy, while Scarlets are four points adrift of them following Saturday’s draw with Munster.
Already-confirmed regular season winners Leinster are 4-6 to go on to Grand Final success for the first time after back-to-back runners-up spots.
Second-placed Ospreys are 7-2 to repeat their inaugural triumph of 2010 while holders Munster are 5-1.
Glasgow are 22-1 for glory with Scarlets at 150 and Ulster at 200-1.
Attention now switches to Europe for the semi-finals of the Heineken and Challenge Cups at the weekend - particularly Ulster's.
Ulster are seven-point handicap favourites against Edinburgh in Dublin while most firms make the meeting between Heineken Cup holders Leinster and Clermont Auvergne in Bordeaux a scratch affair.
All four Challenge Cup semi-finalists are French teams.
Final fixtures:
Aviva Premiership (Sat, May 5): Leicester v Bath, London Irish v Gloucester, Wasps v Newcastle, Northampton v Worcester, Sale v Harlequins, Saracens v Exeter.
Pro12 (Sat, May 5): Edinburgh v Treviso, Glasgow v Connacht, Munster v Ulster, Dragons v Leinster, Scarlets v Cardiff, Aironi v Ospreys.
