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Rugby Union

Northampton future looks bleak

09/04/2007

Northampton's director of rugby Paul Grayson has admitted the club's prospects of maintaining their Premiership status next season are slim after losing 16-7 to Newcastle yesterday.

The Saints are now two points behind second from bottom Worcester with two games remaining of the league season.

Bristol had earlier beaten the Warriors, opening the door for Northampton to move off the bottom, however one try away from home against the Falcons was never going to be enough.

Grayson said: "We had a golden opportunity to put pressure on Worcester, but Newcastle Falcons were fighting for their own survival and we could not expect them to roll over.

"We shouldn't beat ourselves up and we must put this behind us."

The Northampton boss said his side made too many errors and gave away some cheap points early which made their task all the more difficult.

Newcastle ensured they could not get dragged into the relegation fight with the win, leaving the Warriors and the Saints as the remaining candidates for relegation.

The former England fly-half said: "Both sides ended up reflecting where they were in the league and it is going to be hard to stay up now. We are not giving up and we will look to keep the pressure on Worcester, but we are now relying on other people."

Northampton's next game is a Heineken Cup semi-final against Wasps thanks to their surprise win against French champions Biarritz in the last round.

The European competition will allow no doubt offer Grayson's men some welcome respite from the pressures of their Premiership fight.

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