Newcastle fail to show as Saints push

Northampton wing Ben Cohen believes owner Keith Barwell's warning that the Saints were playing for their jobs galvanised them into producing a 28 -13 victory at Newcastle yesterday.

Barwell was on the Northampton team bus to the north-east as was new coach Wayne Smith, who will be officially unveiled today. He watched his new charges score four tries to pick up five points.

Cohen, who scored two of the tries said: 'Keith left us in no doubt last week what was at stake. He told us we were playing for our jobs.'

James Brooks and Mark Tucker scored the other Saints' tries while Tom May and Rob Hunter touched down in a losing cause. Newcastle manager Rob Andrew said: 'We just didn't turn up to the office.'