An even-ish first half that the Saints shaded with a controversial second try was followed by a second period in which the hosts should have pressed home their superiority rather than potentially giving away a losing bonus point.

Now It's been a while since I had a drama on the way to the match, but today was one of the biggest. I took the lady out for a fried breakfast since we both have to work tomorrow and was sitting on the train in Euston station at 12.40pm, when I suddenly realised I had forgotten my ticket for the game!

I could ring Doc or Slacker and ask them to see if they could get one for me from the ground, but what if the game was sold out? By the time I'd find out it'd be too late to get home and to the match on time. (It only hit me on the way home after the game that I could've just gone to the ground and said I never received my ticket).

I had an hour, just enough time to take the Northern Line to London Bridge, get a train to New Cross, grab my ticket and make the same journey back to Euston for the 13.46 that would get me to Northampton at 14.41. Otherwise I'd miss most of the first half. Just about doable.

I got to New Cross OK at 13.03, and had five minutes to leg it home and back to the station for the 13.08 train. I missed it by seconds.

The next one was at 13.18, and it behaved. As the Northern Line train pulled into Euston, it was 13.39. Seven minutes. Sprinting up escalators and through the station, I made the 13.46 to Northampton with barely three minutes to spare, sweating and very thirsty!

Getting into Northampton 20 minutes before kick-off, I walked as quickly as possible (after almost an hour of either sprinting or very nervous I was pretty knackered even after the hour trip to Northampton!) to Franklin's Gardens and got there about five minutes before kick-off. What was all the worry about?

Anyway, back to business. Steve Bates restored his first choice pack and half-backs to the side, though Danny Williams for Rob Vickerman and Gcobani Bobo moving to centre was actually the only change from our last Premiership XV.

Former Falcons captain Phil Dowson led out a home side containing Lee Dickson and Stephen Myler, preferred at fly-half to Shane Geraghty.

A year ago we were 0-19 up at Northampton after ten minutes, but this time after a period of pressure Chris Ashton scored unopposed on the right and Myler's conversion left us 7-0 down.

The first half was quite even and we competed much better than in the reverse game in November, with Alex Tait, Charlie Amesbury and Jimmy Gopperth making good use of the boot and Amesbury in particular looking threatening. Gopperth's first attempt at goal was a long-range penalty that just made it over the crossbar, although Myler replied soon after.

It was through the forwards that we made the breakthrough. On a day that saw James Hudson once again tower in the lineout, we drove from the 22 and when the maul reformed Rob Vickers was pushed over. Gopperth's conversion levelled the sores.

Defences remained on top almost to the end of the half, but almost on the whistle Lee Dickson scored amid a pile of bodies. Referee Dean Richards signalled for assistance from a TMO, and whether there was one to advise or not, he quickly gave the score anyway.

15-10 down at half-time after a decent showing so far was disappointing, but certainly not a disaster.

But while the Falcons did not disintegrate after the restart as so often, we did not have as much territory as before. Myler knocked over another penalty for an infringement at a scrum, but Gopperth returned the deficit to five points.

The maul remained our most potent weapon against the Saints, and from a number of penalties down the right we kept going for lineouts. Sometimes we forced further penalties (no cards forthcoming), sometimes Northampton stole possession, but I definitely think continuing to play at only a try behind was right.

A second try from Ashton, which Myler converted, sealed the win for Saints really and they then went on the hunt for a bonus score, led by the charging Juandre Kruger and sniping Dickson.

The Falcons fought for a losing bonus point in the final few minutes, and from yet another penalty home captain Phil Dowson received what was presumably a final warning with just four minutes left, like that mattered. We tried in vain to get over the home line before a pass was intercepted and the Saints charged back upfield.

Only some amazing defending prevented a last-minute score on our left.

Northampton's 25-13 win may give them a Premiership double over us, but today's game showed again we are capable of competing with the best teams in this league. Our defence is strong, but we struggle to maintain possession and finish off chances, meaning our results are likely to remain on the negative side of inconsistent.

One consistency is that we do not score enough tries generally. While our kicking at least looked to have a point to it today, and Amesbury was again lively, we all know what one home fan meant when he said after the game “I'd hate to be a winger at Newcastle”.

So onwards to next week, when we get another chance to win a second home game this season against an English team – London Irish.

Speaking of which, did anyone know that John Rudd still plays for us? Today's programme lists him on our bench – along with seven other Irish players. Rautenbach to replace Hayman, anyone?

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