A LATE penalty try gave London Irish their first points of the Aviva Premiership season as they secured a thrilling 25-23 victory against Northampton Saints at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon, writes Richard Ashton.

Tom Coventry’s side had endured a chastening start to the campaign but finally broke their duck with a win which takes them off the foot of the table.

Exiles were given an early let-off when Saints fly-half Stephen Myler missed a straight-forward shot at goal, and London Irish took full advantage shortly after when Luke Narraway went over for his first Premiership try in four years at the back of a driving maul. Chris Noakes missed the conversion to leave the score 5-0.

The visitors hit back with a Myler penalty after Ben Franks was penalised for going off side as Exiles desperately defended their line, but Noakes then made amends for his previous miss with three points after Courtney Lawes failed to roll away at the breakdown.

London Irish moved further ahead courtesy of a fabulous second try, Johnny Williams making the initial break before David Paice made further yards after collecting a delicious pass from Narraway. Although he was held up just short of the line, Irish spread the ball wide and Sean Maitland went over in the right corner. Noakes added the extras to put his side 15-3 in front.

Northampton fought back strongly, however, and they scored a first Premiership try in almost four hours when Ken Pisi crossed for the visitors. Myler’s attempted conversion was again off target though, and Irish held a 15-8 advantage at the break.

However, the away side continued their revival with a fabulous try from Welsh international George North early in the second half. With advantage being played, scrum-half Kahn Fotoauli’I dinked a chip over the onrushing Irish defence, and North collected the bouncing ball to score his first try of the season. Myler missed the conversion again to preserve Exiles’ lead.

Irish extended that advantage shortly after when Noakes hammered home a long-range penalty awarded at the scrum, but Myler responded with one of his own after Exiles were pinged for failing to roll away.

Saints then went in front for the first time as a poor line-out – one significant low point on a successful afternoon – was collected by Teimana Harrison. He powered forward and after JJ Hanrahan and Tom Collins also made good ground, Fotoauli’I went over for a score which Myler converted with 15 minutes remaining.

The hosts would not give up, however, and after earning a succession of penalties, former Exile Jamie Gibson was sent to the sin bin with three and a half minutes remaining.

Irish chose to take the scrum, and with a vocal crowd behind them, pushed the Saints back to the point that referee Ian Tempest awarded them the penalty try. Geraghty slotted the conversion to make it 25-23.

Saints launched one final effort to snatch victory, but Myler’s drop goal attempt was charged down by Blair Cowan, and when Brendan McKibbin kicked the ball out of play on 80 minutes, the cheers rang round the Madejski Stadium to celebrate a maiden league success.

London Irish travel to Gloucester next Saturday.

London Irish: Maitland; Lewington Hearn, Williams, Tikoirotuma; Noakes, McKibbin; Court, Paice, Franks, Symons (capt), Lloyd, Narraway, Cowan, Treviranus.

Replacements: Stevens, Smallbone, Aulika, Sinclair, Trayfoot, Steele, Geraghty, Mulchrone.

Northampton Saints: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, Fotuali'i; E Waller, Hartley (capt), Hill Paterson, Day, Lawes, Gibson, Harrison.

Replacements: Haywood, A Waller, Denman, Matfield, Dickinson, Dickson, Hanrahan, Collins.