Saints so close to stunning Leinster

NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson was left to rue the one that got away after Saints went down 20-17 to Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final.

- ADAM HATHAWAY

Saints nearly pulled off a European miracle, in front of a tournament record crowd of 82,300, after letting Leinster run away to a 20-3 lead.

Leinster wing James Lowe became the first player to score a hat-trick in the last four of Europe’s top club tournament getting his third on 43 minutes before the game turned on its head.

Tries from wing George Hendy, on the hour, and replacement Tom Seabrook, with five minutes left plus Fin Smith’s nerveless conversion made it a three-point game.

Saints did have claims for a penalty with the clock in the red, which would have taken the game to added time but they were waved away by referee Mathieu Raynal.

But ultimately it was the first half that cost them and left Leinster still on course for a fifth title.