Northampton Saints have remain top of the Aviva Premiership after earning a 22-16 win over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.
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The visitors got off to an ideal start after full back Ryan Wilson crossed over for a try after just six minutes, only for Stephen Meyler to miss the conversion.
Tom Stephenson and Wilson touched down again during the first half, with Meyler equal to the conversions this time to set up a 19-6 half-time lead after Rory Clegg fired two penalties for the hosts.
Clegg reduced the 13-point deficit by finding the posts with a penalty 17 minutes after the restart, only for Saints out-half to hit back with his own penalty and re-establish the initial advantage shortly after.
Noah Cato touched down in the closing stages for the hosts, but it proved a mere consolation as Saints remain one point clear of Saracens in the standings.
Shane Callaghan
