Mallinder: Saints progressing despite 'stupid' defeat

Harlequins 13 Northampton 6

Jim Mallinder, Northampton's director of rugby, had a point when he described this defeat at Harlequins, compared with last season's fixture at the Twickenham Stoop, as a degree of progress. A repeat display of all that is quarter-hearted against Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester at Franklins Gardens next weekend, however, will damage seriously any pretensions Northampton have of finally winning a league title.

Only stout and at times heroic defence prevented this defeat from being a season's worst thrashing as Harlequins dominated the first half.

Saints bowled up all a swagger on the back of six consecutive league wins whereas Quins were seeking to avoid a fourth defeat in a row. But despite being without England captives Nick Easter, Danny Care and Ugo Monye, Harlequins played like aspiring champions. Armed with England parolees Chris Ashton, Courtney Lawes and Ben Foden, Northampton played like a team making the awful blunder of telling themselves "we're different class, and it will soon tell". It didn't.

Mallinder said: "We have played badly, made stupid mistakes, deserved to lose yet could have won if we'd kicked all our goals, and go home with a losing bonus-point. Last season we came here, played badly, made stupid mistakes and got stuffed 27-6. I consider that a degree of progress."

A near 13,000 crowd sensed something good in the air because they were jumping from the outset, a confidence that transmitted itself to the excellent former All Black stand-off Nick Evans and his troops.

It is not often this season that Northampton have been out-clouted up front, but their scrum was straining, their lineout unconvincing and their overall attitude dangerously lax. But for a marvellous piece of gutsy defence by Lee Dickson, George Lowe would have grounded the ball feet over Northampton's line; but for a woeful piece of sloppiness David Strettle would have scored had he not juggled and dropped a sublime switch pass from Evans.

Lob into the mix the dismal goal-kicking of Stephen Myler, who managed a hat-trick of misses before nailing a couple in the second half, and it was the hosts earning a deserved triumph, despite not scoring after the 20th minute. That was when Lowe's pass to his left sent Mike Brown crashing over for the game's only try, converted by Evans for 13-0, and the fans were rocking.

So, by the evidence of their second-half improvement, were Northampton following what you may be assured were "encouraging" legends of advice from Mallinder, and coach Dorian West, during the interval.

Harlequins head coach John Kingston was justly proud of his players and suggested that if they maintain this approach during the Six Nations weekends, then their last six or seven games with a full squad could yet earn a Heineken Cup spot for next season.

Northampton seek so much more between now and May. On this display you'd back Harlequins to finish the campaign happier. Unless this was truly a Northampton one-off wretched day at the office.

Harlequins: Try Brown; Con Evans; Pens Evans 2. Northampton: Pens Myler 2.

Harlequins: M Brown; D Strettle, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, T Williams (Smith 59); N Evans, K Dickson; C Jones, M Cairns (Booker 68), J Andress, J Percival, L Stevenson, C Robshaw, W Skinner (capt), T Guest.

Northampton: B Foden; C Ashton, J Clarke (Mayor 63), J Downey, P Diggin; S Myler (Geraghty 61), L Dickson; S Tonga'uiha, B Sharman (Long 63), E Murray (Mujati 61), I Fernandez Lobbe (Easter 56), J Kruger, C Lawes (Gray 78), N Best, P Dowson (capt).

Attendance: 12,935.

Referee: JP Doyle.