Attack coach Sam Vesty is enjoying the extra responsibility he is shouldering at Saints this week.

Boss Chris Boyd has decided to give each member of his management team the chance to take charge of a Premiership Rugby Cup match.

Defence coach Alan Dickens was handed the reins last Saturday as a largely youthful Saints side lost 39-18 at an experienced Sale team.

Vesty will take charge for this week's clash with Wasps at Franklin's Gardens, assistant coach Matt Ferguson will be the main man for the following week's game at home to Saracens and forwards coach Phil Dowson will then get his chance for the trip to Leicester Tigers.

Boyd will then take back full control ahead of the Gallagher Premiership season opener at Saracens on October 19.

"Boydy has basically implemented this and put us in charge for different weeks," Vesty explained.

"We get to implement the week we want so we might make minor changes to our schedule, we'll front the meetings, we'll front the game plan side of it and there are obviously the media bits.

"It's more of a head coach role so we'll decide what training's going to look like as more of an individual thing than how it normally works.

"It's good."

Despite taking something of a small step back, Boyd is still heavily involved in the build-up to these Premiership Rugby Cup matches, especially when it comes to team selection.

"It is a discussion and the buck stops at Boydy, but he asks our opinions, we debate things and we come up with a solution," Vesty said.

"Boydy is still picking the team during these weeks."

Boyd, who signed a three-year deal when joining from the Hurricanes last summer, has already previously stated his desire for his current Saints coaching staff to succeed him when he eventually calls time on his stay in Northampton.

“If you’re solid with your decision-making you can have a long and fruitful career," said Boyd in July.

“And my aim for all four of these guys is to give them a really good foundation and springboard to whatever they want to do, but hopefully that will be at Saints.

“I’d love it if in 10 years’ time all four of them were coaching a very successful Northampton Saints team.

“Is that going to happen? Not definitely because people do move on. But it’s certainly what I’d like to see happen and it would be a big victory.”

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Aston-Le-Walls will be opening its doors to parents during an open event on September 30.

The Open Monday Morning event takes place between 9am and 11am.

Headteacher, Laura Concannon, will welcome parents and give a speech about and tour of the school.

There will be a chance to have questions about school life at St Mary’s answered, enjoy refreshments and find out more about the Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ school.

The event is free but parents are asked to confirm their intention to attend by calling 01295 660258, emailing head@stmarys-pri.northants-ecl.gov.uk or by visiting their website.

Lewis Ludlam capped a superb showing with a try on his first World Cup start as England thrashed the USA 45-7 in Kobe on Thursday.

Ludlam delivered a typically all-action display and rounded it off by putting the finishing touches to a pass from man of the match George Ford.

Piers Francis also started the game, producing a strong performance after a poor early tackle on former Saints back Will Hooley.

Francis will now fear a citing for the incident, which came immediately after the kick-off.

Hooley was eventually stretchered off after a separate incident in the second half.

Courtney Lawes came off the bench for England, meaning all three Saints players got some game time for Eddie Jones's side.

England scored seven tries in all and they have taken maximum points from their two World Cup matches so far.

Their next Pool C game comes against Argentina on October 5.

Eddie Jones labelled Lewis Ludlam 'one of the most impressive young forwards out there' after the Saints flanker scored his first England try in the World Cup win against USA.

Ludlam rounded off a fantastic all-round display with a second-half score in a 45-7 success in Kobe.

The 23-year-old finally established himself at Franklin's Gardens last season, having emerged from the Saints Academy.

And he is now living the dream on the international stage, playing in both of England's World Cup matches so far.

"He's an incredible young player and he's only going to get better," said Jones after seeing his side run in seven tries against the USA.

"He was lucky to make Northampton's B team 12 months ago and he's out here in a World Cup and one of the most impressive young forwards out there."

Piers Francis also impressed for England after being given a start at inside centre.

But he could find himself in hot water with the citing officer after a hit on former Saints back Will Hooley in the opening seconds of the match.

"We leave that up to the referee," Jones said.

"We're quite happy whatever the judicial process is to take part in it.

"We've got no qualms one way or the other.

"Whatever way it goes, we'll support the decision by World Rugby."

More than two in five low-income over-65s in Rugby are missing out on their Pension Credits, new analysis shows.

Anti-poverty charity Turn2Us said pensioners were falling foul of “digital exclusion”, and called on the Government to make the benefit more accessible to people with low computer literacy.

The charity estimates 1,494 people in Rugby were not claiming Pension Credit – a means-tested benefit for low-income pensioners – in February this year, despite being entitled to it.

That’s 41% of eligible claimants in the area .

Pension Credit tops up the income of over-65s to a minimum level – £167.25 per week for single people and £255.25 for couples.

Turn2Us estimates that £3.4 million went unclaimed in Rugby over just one year.

David Samson, welfare benefits specialist at the charity, said: “Pension Credit is not a luxury, it makes a significant difference in weekly income.

“We work with people every day who are struggling financially, and we know that older people are often the least equipped to get the right support at the right time.

“We believe that a lack of information, along with digital exclusion amongst this age group, is a major reason for the lack of claiming.”

The charity reported providing advice and support to over 90,000 over-65s last year, a 61% increase on the year before.

Charity Age UK raised concerns that the current application system is forcing older people to “jump through hoops to get the money that is due to them”.

Director Caroline Abrahams said: “Successive governments have not tried terribly hard to increase take-up of Pension Credit.

“The treasury pockets billions that ought to be supporting older people on low incomes to live decently.

“At the very least the application process needs to be made easier, and more needs to be done to raise awareness that Pension Credit exists.

“However, ideally older people would not have to ask for extra money to bring up their incomes to a decent level at all.

“It would either come to them automatically, or their State Pension would provide them with an adequate amount in the first place.”

Across Britain, more than 1.3 million low-income pensioners are not claiming the benefits they are entitled to.

The DWP said it encourages people to check if they qualify for Pension Credit, and distributes information via leaflets and Jobcentre staff, as well as online.

A spokesperson said: “Pension Credit is an important protection for some of the most vulnerable people, and we want everyone to claim what they are entitled to.

“Anyone who claims their State Pension receives a letter encouraging them to call u

A public interest report looking into what exactly went wrong at Northamptonshire County Council will take place, so that other local authorities can learn from the mistakes made.

The financially strapped authority will have to cover the cost of the report, which will look into the 2017/18 financial year, when the council failed to balance it books and overspent by £35m.

It should lift the lid on decisions that were taken by the authority, its ruling Conservative cabinet and officers in the run-up to the meltdown which made headlines across the world.

KPMG, which audited the 2017/18 accounts – which are almost ready for official sign off – had been pondering whether a public interest report could be afforded by the council, in light of its current financial frailty, but has decided the report must go ahead.

It is expected to cost the council in the region of £100,000.

Speaking at the audit committee meeting earlier held at county hall in Northampton yesterday (Sept 26) chief auditor Andrew Cardoza said: “We will carry a public interest report in terms of how we got here as an authority from where it was in terms of the overspend, etc. And that’s a useful piece of information that brings in all of the history of where it was, where it is. There is a learning piece there for other organisations.”

Mr Cardoza, whose team will be compiling the report, said he hoped to have it completed and published within six months.

Chair of the audit committee Bill Jessup urged that it was finished as soon as possible so that any lessons can be learned quickly.

This is the last involvement KPMG will have with the council, as Ernst and Young has now been appointed as the council’s auditors.

Public interest reports are relatively rare, with the last public interest report in the county taking place in 2013 and looked at Corby Council's mismanagement of some high profile projects including Corby Cube.

Piers Francis could be punished for his hit on Will Hooley during England's win against the USA in Kobe on Thursday.

The Saints centre has been cited for the tackle he made inside the opening 10 seconds of the World Cup clash.

Francis did try to wrap but his shoulder made contact with the head of Hooley.

And the England man now faces an anxious wait to see if he will be suspended.

If the citing is upheld, Francis is facing a ban in the region of six weeks minus any reduction for mitigating circumstances, potentially ending his involvement in Japan 2019.

On the basis of the outcome of citings for similar offences already at this World Cup, the Saints playmaker would appear to be looking a mid-range sanction of a six-week suspension reduced to three.

When asked about whether Francis should have been punished during the game, England boss Eddie Jones said: "We leave that up to the referee.

"We're quite happy whatever the judicial process is to take part in it.

"We've got no qualms one way or the other.

"Whatever way it goes, we'll support the decision by World Rugby."

Symons moved to Northampton from Gloucester in the summer of 2018 but was only able to make three competitive appearances during his first season at the club.

That was because he sustained a serious knee injury in the defeat at Bath last September, ruling him out for a full year.

But the centre is now fully fit again and will start in the 12 shirt against Wasps this weekend.

He forms a centre partnership with Rory Hutchinson, who has recovered from a slight shoulder problem.

Hutchinson will be bidding to bounce back after being surprisingly omitted from Scotland's World Cup squad.

Saints have made a total of nine changes for this weekend's game following the 39-18 defeat at Sale Sharks last Saturday.

Only Lewis Bean, Alex Coles, Tom Wood, Mitch Eadie, James Grayson and Ollie Sleightholme remain from the starting 15 at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Henry Taylor comes in to make his first start for Saints, having joined the club from Saracens during the summer.

Alex Waller is back at loosehead and will skipper the side, with Teimana Harrison dropping to the bench.

JJ Tonks is also among the replacements as the former Gloucester back row forward looks to make his first competitive appearance for Saints.

Scrum-half James Mitchell is also in line for his Northampton debut.

But Harry Mallinder (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Alex Mitchell (knee), Reece Marshall (hamstring), Mikey Haywood (knee), Jamie Gibson (shoulder), Heinrich Brüssow (ankle) and Paddy Ryan (knee) are on the injury list.

For Wasps, summer signings Paolo Odogwu and Jeff Toomaga-Allen are set to make their debuts.

Odogwu will start while All Blacks tighthead Toomaga-Allen, who worked with Saints boss Chris Boyd at the Hurricanes, is among the replacements.

Another new signing, Sam Wolstenholme, is picked at No.9 for his first start for the club and will link up with Jacob Umaga, who impressed from the tee last weekend.

Michael Le Bourgeois will start in the centres for the first time since December 2018, alongside Academy graduate Sam Spink who is set for a first first-team appearance since February 2018.

Last season’s top try-scorer Josh Bassett will be on the left wing, while Marcus Watson is named at full-back.

In the pack, Tom Cruse starts at hooker with Georgia international Zurabi Zhvania at loosehead and summer signing Biyi Alo - the latter is set for his first start for the club at tighthead.

Tim Cardall and Charlie Matthews keep their places in the second row.

England international Brad Shields will skipper the side from the back row, which includes Springboks ace Nizaam Carr and new signing and Tonga international Sione Vailanu – another who is set for his first start for Wasps.

Owain James in named among the replacements and is in line for his first appearance since November 2018, while Jack Willis and Tom West are also added to the squad.

Saints: Collins; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Symons, Naiyaravoro; Grayson, Taylor; Waller (c), Fish, Painter; Ribbans, Bean; Coles, Wood, Eadie.
Replacements: van Vuuren, Franks, Hill, Tonks, Harrison, J Mitchell, Dingwall, Olowofela.

Wasps: Watson; Odogwu, Spink, Le Bourgeois, Bassett; Umaga, Wolstenholme; Zhvania, Cruse, Alo; Cardall, Matthews; Shields (c), Carr, Vailanu.
Replacements: Oghre, West, Toomaga-Allen, Flament, Miller, James.

Fixture: Northampton Saints v Wasps

Competition: Premiership Rugby Cup (pool game two)

Venue: Franklin's Gardens, Northampton

Date and kick-off time: Saturday, September 28, 2019, 3pm

Weather forecast: Mostly cloudy, 17 degrees

Television coverage: BT Sport 3, from 2.45pm

Referee: Michael Hudson

Saints: Collins; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Symons, Naiyaravoro; Grayson, Taylor; Waller (c), Fish, Painter; Ribbans, Bean; Coles, Wood, Eadie.

Replacements: van Vuuren, Franks, Hill, Tonks, Harrison, J Mitchell, Dingwall, Olowofela.

Wasps: Watson; Odogwu, Spink, Le Bourgeois, Bassett; Umaga, Wolstenholme; Zhvania, Cruse, Alo; Cardall, Matthews; Shields (c), Carr, Vailanu.

Replacements: Oghre, West, Toomaga-Allen, Flament, Miller, James.

Saints outs: Harry Mallinder (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Alex Mitchell (knee), Reece Marshall (hamstring), Mikey Haywood (knee), Jamie Gibson (shoulder), Heinrich Brüssow (ankle), Paddy Ryan (knee), Dan Biggar, Piers Francis, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Api Ratuniyarawa, Cobus Reinach, Ahsee Tuala (all at the Rugby World Cup).

Most recent meeting: January 6, 2019: Wasps 27 Saints 16 (Gallagher Premiership)

Tom's preview: When Wasps rock up at Franklin's Gardens this weekend, they will spark some good memories for Saints supporters.

Because it was against Dai Young's men little less than a year ago that Saints really started to ignite under the stewardship of Chris Boyd.

They had shown glimmers of what the new boss had brought to the Franklin's Gardens table, especially when brushing past Bristol at Ashton Gate a couple of months earlier.

But they finally put it all together, at both ends of the pitch, as they swatted Wasps with a ruthless attacking display.

Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Sleightholme both scored eye-catching tries as the youthful exuberance Boyd was starting to build his team around took centre stage.

Saints played with a swagger to secure much-needed Premiership points, and perhaps more importantly, to finally fully lift the cloud from the Gardens sky.

On a sun-soaked November afternoon, this was a statement of intent.

And Saints eventually built on it to finish a fine first season under Boyd with a trophy, a top-four finish and a place in a European quarter-final.

They got their fear factor back a bit at home, although there were bumps in the road against the likes of Newcastle and Bristol.

And they started to bring a buzz back to Northampton.

Now they will be desperate to start their home season in style to show the Gardens can be a difficult place to visit in the coming weeks and months.

The success of any top team is built on a formidable home record - and that is what Saints must create if they are to have any hope of achieving their aims this time round.

They have named a team full of firepower, with the likes of Taqele Naiyaravoro and Rory Hutchinson returning.

And they will expect to show the kind of belief they were oozing when they last hosted Wasps.

The away side will not go quietly as they have named some real danger men in their side, especially in the back row, where Brad Shields, Nizaam Carr and Sione Vailanu reside.

If Saints let them have a big say on the game, they will be in trouble.

But, as ever, if Boyd's men even achieve just parity with the oppositon pack, they will back themselves to get the job done.

And that would be a big boost with another tough home fixture, against Saracens, to come next weekend.

Tom's prediction: It should be a really good contest at the Gardens as both sides look strong in certain areas, but Saints' youthful exuberance should just about win out here as long as they can stop Wasps' powerful and experienced back row getting on top. Saints 25 Wasps 20.

Northamptonshire County Council could ‘go out of business’ if its data centre goes down because the council does not have a disaster recovery plan.

The council’s audit committee was left ‘speechless’ yesterday by the revelation from LGSS’s interim managing director Mark Ashton that the authority is operating without an adequate form of IT disaster protection.

The meeting heard that if there was a fire or flood at the data centre site at County Hall then it could take ‘weeks or months’ to get reinstated. Like all local authorities the council holds a huge amount of data that it relies on to provide services to its thousands of customers.

Audit committee chair Bill Jessup said the matter needed to be dealt with urgently by the council’s senior management and the authority’s Conservative-controlled cabinet.

Mr Ashton said the lack of an adequate security back-up had been a ‘financial decision’ taken by the council.

He said an IT security contract had ended when the council moved its main headquarters from John Dryden House to One Angel Square in September 2017. There is data back-up at Cambridge County Council – which along with Milton Keynes Council is a partner of NCC under the LGSS umbrella – but Mr Ashton said this data would not be immediately accessible. He used the analogy of having a Betamax video tape but not having a Betamax video player.

At the meeting the usually unflappable Mr Jessup exclaimed ‘wow’ when he heard Mr Ashton’s explanation of matters.

He said: “We are in a pretty dire situation if you tell us that if any sort of disaster [occurs] we have no facility to recover the data. The council could go out of business.”

Conservative Cllr Cecille Irving Swift said the situation had left her ‘speechless’. She questioned how the authority – which is currently projecting a several million pound overspend this financial year – could put the costs of IT protection into the budget. Mr Ashton said he had ‘no idea’ of cost but that possibly it could come from the council’s capital budget.

The revelation came during a discussion of the council’s IT disaster recovery systems – which had been given a limited audit rating by internal auditors LGSS.

Auditors found that the three councils did not have disaster recovery plans or testing arrangements in place and contractual arrangements between the three councils had not been formalised.

With specific reference to Northamptonshire the report said: “We were informed that critical IT systems do not currently have a disaster recovery solution in the event of a serious incident. There is a risk that the disaster recovery solution may lead to signifiant delays in recovering critical systems from a disruption, thereby resulting in operational disruption and reputational damage.”

The recommendation from auditors is that as a high priority disaster recovery plans are put in place and should be tested.

Mr Ashton said that all three LGSS authorities were ‘joined at the hip’ and that as part of current discussions about LGSS’s future, the data could be ‘repatriated to the individual councils.

To discover where to find the friendliest cities in the UK, Big Events Travel asked their 1.5 million strong social audience to weigh in on where you will be made to feel the most welcome. From strangers helping you find your way, to making friends with locals in a bar, these are the top 20 friendliest cities in the UK.

The 'bold and unprecedented' call for more central funding for Northamptonshire Police by inspectors who criticised the force was welcomed by bosses.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) admitted a decade of under-funding has had a 'damaging' impact on the force following its damning report.

At a press conference this morning (Friday, September 27), Chief Constable Nick Adderley said it was now down to him and the police and crime commissioner to get more money from the government.

"We can't keep expecting the residents of Northamptonshire to make up that shortfall through additional tax - that's not fair," he told the Chronicle & Echo.

"The government's central grant now has to step up and support us."

HMICFRS found a wide range of issues with Northamptonshire Police during an inspection in January, according to the report, but the chief constable insists significant improvements have already been made.

Ch Cons Adderley said the force was 212 officers short of the amount needed to meet demand while having around £6m less from the government based on the average funding per head.

Extra money and officers would allow them to fully staff teams and have more people available to take on proactive work or efforts around supporting people with mental health issues.

"This will give us that flexibility and ability to go proactive, to get the early intervention side of it right, and provide those essential services that support the ladies and gents out there doing the front-end side of policing," he said.

Northamptonshire police, fire and crime commissioner Stephen Mold said he had never heard HMICFRS describe a force as 'structurally under-funded' before.

He agreed that more money is needed even though additional officers from his office and Boris Johnson's recent pledge will take the numbers up to the most the force has ever had.

On the state of Northamptonshire Police, Mr Mold said he has also never been more confident that the force is improving, despite some dark days.

"This job has been quite tough over the last couple of years and there really have been times when I've wondered whether Northamptonshire Police can actually turn it around," he said.

"This is the first time I've been really optimistic, I can see it happening and I have never been more optimistic for Northamptonshire Police than I am today."

Police Federation representative Sergeant Sam Dobbs believed the report was fair as officers were struggling despite being 'as hard working as they have ever been'.

"They're tired, they're worn-out, and the demand and complexities they are having to face, which they do on a daily basis, has been hampered by some really opaque systems," he said.

To Ch Cons Adderley, he added: "You're certainly not pulling the wool over anyone's eyes when you say the improvements have started, but we have a long way to go yet."

READ MORE: Damning report reveals 'inadequate' Northamptonshire Police's failings - but chief insists improvements have been made

Another senior figure at Northamptonshire County Council has resigned.

Just five months into his role as executive director of commercial and place Dominic Domini has decided the council is not the place for him and it is in his ‘best interests to leave’.

News of his resignation comes in the same week that government-appointed children’s commissioner Malcolm Newsam handed in the towel after just 10 months at the under-pressure authority. The commissioner’s reasons for quitting are unknown.

In his resignation announcement, made public by a council spokesman, Mr Domini said the decision to go had not been an easy one but as he was still living in Cumbria, leaving NCC was ‘in his best interests’.

He is understood to be leaving his post at the end of the month.

Ian Boll, who was also a senior figure in highways and was acting as executive director until Mr Domini took over, is also leaving the authority this month.

There has been a large turnover of senior officers at Northamptonshire in the past 12 months, with much of the senior team changing after the authority’s financial meltdown in April 2018. Chief executive Theresa Grant joined the council in August last year and has been joined by some former colleagues.

Head of children’s services Lesley Hagger left the authority in June last year and her replacement Walter McCulloch left a few months after. The service is now headed up by Sally Hodges.

Chief finance officer Ian Duncan had his last day at the authority yesterday and will be replaced by Barry Scarr.
Independent councillor Julie Davenport said the rotation of staff was not a shock.

She said: “Nothing surprises me any more. Since 2017 so much has happened, it is just now par for the course.”

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

AUGUST 12

Richard Gisby, aged 62, of York Ride, Weedon, driving at 39mph in a 30mph zone; fined £166, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Suzanne Glithero-Sone, aged 33, of Collyweston Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Lauren Hansen, aged 23, of Turners Gardens, Wootton, driving at 41mph in a 30mph zone; fined £184, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with four points.

Benjamin Howard, aged 30, of Marble Street, Northampton, driving at 47mph in a 40mph zone; fined £175, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Suad Hussein, aged 56, of Barring Street, Northampton, driving at 52mph in a 30mph zone; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Maminder Kaur, aged 40, of Adams Road, Daventry, driving at 51mph in a 30mph zone; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Robert Molloy, aged 40, of Billing Road, Northampton, driving at 55mph in a 40mph zone; fined £440, surcharge £44, costs £85, licence endorsed with four points.

Matthew O’Callaghan, aged 38, of Grants Hill Way, Woodford Halse, driving at 50mph in a 30mph zone; fined £440, surcharge £44, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

June Porter, aged 55, of Hammerstone Lane, Northampton, driving at 50mph in a 30mph zone; fined £266, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Mateusz Romaniuk, aged 23, of Derby Road, Northampton, driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone; fined £115, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £115.

Patrick Treacy, aged 70, of Drayton Walk, Northampton, driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220. No insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with eight points.

Anthony Waugh, aged 23, of Lodore Gardens, Northamton, driving at 42mph in a 30mph zone; fined £440, surcharge £44, costs £85, licence endorsed with four points.

Wasif Ahmed, aged 21, of Far Acre Court, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £123. No insurance; fined £369, surcharge £36, costs £85, licence endorsed with eight points.

Zaheer Babr, aged 53, faulty tyre on car; fined £100, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Matthew Bailey, aged 30, of Smitherway, Bugbrooke, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Sergiu Bulache, aged 30, of Stanhope Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Marins Calin, aged 22, of Lutterworth Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Gareth Clark, aged 41, of Friars Crescent, Northampton, faulty tyre; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Jeffrey Coleman, aged 41, of Booth Rise, Northampton, driving at 42mph in a 30mph zone; fined £440, surcharge £44, costs £85, licence endorsed with four points.

Danielle Crossland, aged 24, of Balfour Close, Northampton, driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Richard Dickins, aged 48, of Manor Road, Grimscote, Towcester, driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone; fined £30, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

John Geddes, aged 55, of Rothersthorpe Road, Northampton, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Shakiru-Afolabi Idris-Opeloyeru, aged 51, of Campion Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Rudorwashe Muswe, aged 22, of Medway Drive, Northampton, failed to identify a driver accused of an offence; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Dumitru Nani, aged 25, of Skelton Walk, Northampton, driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone; fined £92, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £92.

Matthew Palmer, aged 50, of Aldwell Close,Northampton, driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone; fined £86, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Malcolm Railson, aged 46, of Millway, Northampton, driving at 46mph in a 40mph; fined £40, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Karl Ryan, aged 57, of Hillcrest Avenue, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Taqele Naiyaravoro was red carded as Saints lost a thrilling Premiership Rugby Cup clash 36-32 to Wasps at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

The lead changed hands nine times in all, but it was Wasps who earned the win thanks to the penalty try that was awarded for Naiyaravoro's high tackle in the corner.

It was Naiyaravoro's second yellow card of the day, having earlier been sin-binned for what referee Michael Hudson deemed as a trip on a Wasps player.

Saints still looked like they might squeeze Wasps out as they piled the pressure on in the closing stages, but the away side just about held firm to make sure of the points.

Wasps almost got off to a flyer early on but Sam Spink's break was ended by a brilliant tap tackle from Mitch Eadie.

Zurab Zhvania and Sam Wolstenholme both then went within inches as Wasps frantically tried to come away with some reward for their efforts.

Naiyaravoro looked to have relieved the pressure with a big tackle that forced a knock-on, but Saints gave the ball straight back and Wasps made them pay.

Nizaam Carr did some nice work close to the line before offloading to Jacob Umaga for a simple score.

Umaga converted, but Saints were stung into life, with Ollie Sleightholme, Tom Collins and Rory Hutchinson starting to look threatening.

And it wasn't long before the hosts scored, booting a kickable penalty to the corner and demolishing Wasps in the drive, with James Fish the beneficiary.

Grayson struck the post with the conversion to leave Saints two points behind, but they were soon ahead in bizarre fashion.

Hutchinson's pass flicked the head of Grayson and the ball bounced into space for Naiyaravoro to pick up and dot down.

Grayson missed the conversion, but he was able to make amends with a penalty after Saints won it against the head at a scrum.

Wasps needed to regain their early momentum and they were boosted by a yellow card for Naiyaravoro who was punished for what referee Hudson felt was a deliberate trip, even though it looked like the Saints wing had slipped.

Saints suffered another blow immediately as Sleightholme, who had started really well, was forced off with an injury.

Wasps were eventually able to make the most of their man advantage with Naiyaravoro still off the pitch as they scored a slick try before the break.

Former Saints lock Tim Cardall finished things off after Marcus Watson had started it with a clever offload while going to ground.

But Umaga missed the conversion to leave Saints 13-12 up at half-time.

Wasps were soon in front in the second period though as they enjoyed huge numbers on the left after taking a quick tap penalty and Sione Vailanu finished things off.

Umaga missed the conversion again but Saints had conceded two tries during Naiyaravoro's costly absence.

He returned to the field almost immediately after the Wasps try and Saints didn't waste any time getting back in front as Eadie pouched an intecept try.

Grayson converted to take his team into a 20-17 lead and Wasps were then forced into a long period of defence as Saints again cranked up the heat in the lineout drive.

But it was Wasps who were to score next as replacement back Owain James produced a brilliant offload over his own head for Carr to earn a clear run to the line.

Umaga again missed the conversion but his team led 22-20 with 22 minutes of the see-saw match remaining.

Umaga was once again the villain with 15 minutes to go as he clearly knocked on deliberately as Naiyaravoro passed inside after charging down the line.

That earned Umaga a yellow card and Saints a penalty try, putting the home side 27-22 up.

But yet again the lead changed hands as Jack Willis applied the finishing touches for Wasps after a period of pressure close to the Saints line, and Rob Miller converted in Umaga's absence.

It was merely a minute before Saints were back in front though as Naiyaravoro and Teimana Harrison did some brilliant work in the build-up before Dingwall finished well in the corner.

Grayson missed the conversion and there was still even more drama to come.

Wasps looked set to score in the corner, but Naiyaravoro came flying across and got his man in touch, but the wing was deemed to have made a high tackle and a penalty try was awarded.

Not only that, but Naiyaravoro was handed his second yellow card of the day, making a red, leaving Saints a man down for the remainder of the game.

But still they came forward, refusing to give up, and Dingwall was so close to his second try of the day, eventually being stopped agonisingly short.

Saints continued to apply pressure after winning a series of penalties late on, but they lost a lineout that allowed Wasps to boot the ball out to confirm the win.

Saints: Collins; Sleightholme (Olowofela 33), Hutchinson, Symons (Dingwall 58), Naiyaravoro; Grayson, Taylor (Mitchell 66); Waller (c) (B Franks 58), Fish (van Vuuren 62), Painter (Hill 62); Ribbans, Bean (Harrison 53); Coles, Wood (Tonks 66), Eadie.

Wasps: Watson (James 40); Odogwu, Spink, Le Bourgeois, Bassett (Miller 67); Umaga, Wolstenholme (Clement 73); Zhvania (West 53), Cruse (Oghre 56), Alo (Toomaga-Allen 53); Cardall, Matthews (Flament 65); Shields (c) (Willis 55), Carr, Vailanu.

Referee: Michael Hudson

Sam Vesty has told Saints they must learn quickly after their errors allowed Wasps to win 36-32 at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

The lead changed hands nine times as both sides continually gave each other routes back into the game.

Taqele Naiyaravoro was yellow carded twice, making a red, with the second incident - a high tackle - giving Wasps a penalty try that won them the game.

Saints scored five times in all, with James Fish, Naiyaravoro, Mitch Eadie and Fraser Dingwall adding to a penalty try.

But missed conversions from James Grayson were costly and so were the errors that crept into the game, including Naiyaravoro's actions.

And attack coach Vesty, who was given the chance to lead the team as part of Chris Boyd's Premiership Rugby Cup coaching rotation system, said: "We're bitterly disappointed.

"We showed some signs of playing really quite well and scored some good tries but we let them off the hook.

"We gave cheap possession away and we gave cheap territory away at completely the wrong time.

"You can't afford to do that and they are a dangerous team who can score.

"We kept letting them get back into the game all the time.

"We've got to manage those times better and we've got to manage our way out of areas better.

"If you keep giving them the ball back, it's going to hurt you eventually - you will concede tries.

"The frustrating thing is that some of it's our process stuff. We can all drop a ball but when we don't do what we say we're going to do, it's really frustrating.

"There are some positives in that we moved the ball well two or three times and you saw what we could do, but the amount of times we gave the ball back to them we didn't give ourselves enough momentum to keep doing it.

"We've got to learn, and we've got to learn pretty quick."

There was no doubt that Naiyaravoro's sin-binnings were costly as Wasps scored twice while he was off for what was viewed as a deliberate trip during the first half, and his second yellow cost them that decisive penalty try.

But Vesty was in no mood to complain about the decision making of referee Michael Hudson.

"Sometimes you get those decisions, sometimes you don't," Vesty said.

"I never criticise the ref because they do a cracking job and make lots of decisions.

"We always harp on about the one that goes against us."

Francis was cited for a high tackle on Hooley during the opening seven seconds of the game in Kobe.

He attended a hearing on Sunday and admitted he had committed an act of foul play but denied that it reached the red card threshold.

And, having considered all the angles of the incident, together with evidence from the player and submissions from his legal counsel, the disciplinary panel determined that the act ought to have resulted in a yellow card on-field.

Since the threshold for upholding a citing is red card, the committee did not uphold the citing and the player is free to play again immediately.

The committee followed the High Tackle Sanction Framework (HTSF) in order to make its decision.

Francis accepted that it was a high tackle that made contact with the head of the opposition ball carrier.

He also accepted that a high degree of danger was present.

Following the HTSF, this results in a starting point of a red card.

The committee then considered whether mitigating factors should result in the sanction being decreased and decided that there was significant and sufficient mitigation to be found.

The key points of the judgement were as follows...

There was a sudden change of height by the USA player immediately before contact. It was only at the time of that sudden change that the clear line of sight factor (against mitigation) came in to play and could become of relevance; and that line of sight factor, therefore, was somewhat limited in its application, and the weight to be given to it;

The player (Francis), being in control of the tackle, attempted to avoid the opponent’s head by making a definite attempt to change his own height and his body position;

The player's initial contact was with his own head on the ball carrier’s left shoulder (and which initial contact absorbed a large degree of force), with the player’s left shoulder then slipping up to make indirect and minor contact to the ball carrier’s head, causing no apparent injury.

The committee weighed up the factors for and against mitigation and on the balance of probabilities, decided that the mitigating factors outweighed the factors against mitigation and so the appropriate on-field sanction was a yellow card.

The citing was therefore not upheld.

Francis will now be able to feature in England's game against Argentina on Saturday if selected.

Wasps forwards coach Andy Titterrell says he watched most of his side's win at Saints through his fingers.

It was a nip and tuck encounter at Franklin's Gardens, where the lead changed hands nine times before Wasps eventually won 36-32.

Two yellow cards, which brought a red, for Taqele Naiyaravoro cost holders Saints dear as they suffered a second successive defeat in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

But for Wasps, it was the perfect way to bounce back from the previous week's defeat to Saracens.

"I watched most of the game through my fingers actually, I thought we controlled the game relatively well," Titterrell said.

"First half we had 70 per cent either territory or possession, I don't know the exact figure but it was good to see us playing in the right areas, playing in the corners trying to trust our defence in the set pieces to put pressure on.

"Then obviously tighten things up, we're only two games into the season and have had pretty much two different squads play in two different games.

"I think if we can combine what we had with the set-piece last week against Sarries, with this week's endeavour around the defence and the attack.

"We've still got Sale and Worcester to play before the first league game of the season."

Saints scored five tries in total, but Wasps had the final say with a penalty try after Naiyaravoro's high tackle in the corner.

And Titterrell added: "The attack went well for us again, to score the number of tries we did the second week on the bounce when I think last year we struggled to get over the whitewash, so obviously, that's pleasing to see.

"Defensively, I know we conceded 32 points but the boys put in an incredible amount of work so that got improved from the performance at home and when you're coming away from home anyway even with the side that Northampton picked, you knew they'd come out all guns blazing.

"We questioned certain things about the players after last week about the game and the physicality and obviously they answered some of those."

Wales boss Warren Gatland says Dan Biggar was 'disappointed' to come off during the World Cup win against Australia.

But it was necessary to replace the Saints star after he failed a head injury assessment (HIA) in the first half of the game in Tokyo.

Biggar superbly landed an early drop goal to give his team the lead, but he was forced off after colliding with destructive Australia centre Samu Kerevi.

Rhys Patchell came on and helped Wales to secure a crucial 29-25 victory that puts them top of their pool.

And after the game, Gatland gave an update on Biggar.

“He failed a HIA and we have to make sure he goes through those protocols," Gatland said.

“We’ve got to make sure we go through those protocols in the next week.

"He was disappointed to come off.”

The next game for Wales comes against Fiji on October 9.

If there is one major positive to take out of Saints' opening two games of the new campaign it is that they have both been in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Because while winning the competition meant a lot last season as the black, green and gold bagged their first trophy under Chris Boyd, it has taken on a different emphasis this season.

While they would dearly love to be recording wins, Saints are far more focused on ironing things out ahead of the start of the Gallagher Premiership season on October 19.

As young prop Ehren Painter firmly put it in his post-match interview on Saturday: all roads lead to Saracens.

And Saints know that the myriad mistakes they are making at the moment must be eradicated by the time they make that typically tricky trip to Allianz Park next month.

Because if they show up and deliver some of the errors and disciplinary problems they produced against Wasps this weekend, they will be facing another Saracens horror show.

They continually gave Wasps a way back into the game and vice versa.

It made for an interesting spectacle for supporters, who witnessed a frantic Franklin's Gardens affair as both teams gave out some early Christmas presents to the opposition.

But there wasn't much cheer at the final whistle for Saints as they suffered a second defeat in as many matches this season and a third if you include the pre-season loss to Leinster.

Wins are of course vitally important to build confidence and momentum - and how Saints will need those things when they square up Saracens in the league.

But there is still time for that, and there is still time to get rid of the issues Saints have had so far.

Every time they went ahead against Wasps - the lead changed hands a whopping nine times in all - they soon found themselves behind again.

They failed to hammer home advantages and it came back to bite them.

What also put a spanner in the works was an eventual red card for Taqele Naiyaravoro.

He picked up his first yellow during the first period for what the referee felt was a deliberate trip.

In truth, it was a debatable sin-binning as Naiyaravoro seemed to slip and stick his leg out for balance, but the Wasps player went over, and off the Saints wing went.

His second indiscretion was less debatable as his high tackle on Owain James in the corner led to the winning try for Wasps.

It was far more clumsy than it was malicious, and for a man of Naiyaravoro's size, tackling someone far smaller in such a pressure situation is always going to be tough.

Nevertheless, it was a fair call from referee Michael Hudson and it left Saints right up against it at 36-32 down.

There was still time for Saints to try to get back in front again, and they huffed and puffed as they tried to blow the Wasps door down one more time.

But, perhaps fittingly, an error let them down as they lost the ball at a lineout and Wasps booted the ball out as they celebrated a narrow success.

It was far from the outcome that Saints wanted, and for long periods, especially during the first half, deserved.

But if you can't keep your foot on the throat of the opposition, you have to expect them to keep getting up.

And that was exactly what Wasps did.

For Saints, hopes of defending the Premiership Rugby Cup are fading fast.

But with the Premiership and a return to the Champions Cup on the horizon it is far from the end of the world.

In fact, as has been pointed out on these pages previously, it may be a blessing without the disguise if they bow out because they will need those rest weekends later in the season.

What they really need now though is a couple of wins to give them a real shot in the arm in terms of belief.

And what better way to get that than by beating Saracens and Leicester Tigers during the next two weeks.

How they rated...

TOM COLLINS

Made some good contributions but wasn't really able to find the space that he so often thrives in... 6

OLLIE SLEIGHTHOLME

Looked so impressive early on, producing an all-action half an hour before seemingly picking up an injury while booting the ball out of play... 6

RORY HUTCHINSON

Was razor sharp at times, showing he won't let his omission from Scotland's World Cup squad affect him... 7

ANDY SYMONS

Was clearly keen to impress after so long on the sidelines and a couple of early passes went astray as he tried to rid himself of the rust, but he did okay overall... 6

TAQELE NAIYARAVORO

The epitome of an eventful display from the big wing who was a constant menace in attack but who fell foul of two decisions that cost his side tries and ultimately the game... 4

JAMES GRAYSON

Didn't have his kicking boots on as he missed some efforts he would normally expect to make, and that was problematic for Saints as they failed to really build scoreboard pressure... 5

HENRY TAYLOR

Looked lively at times as he tried to keep the tempo high for Saints in attack. Has shown some promise but still work to do as he will know... 6

ALEX WALLER

Skippered Saints and helped them get on top up front during the first half, but Wasps eventually managed to respond... 6

JAMES FISH

Grabbed a trademark Saints hooker try from the back of a hugely dominant drive and didn't do much wrong on the day... 6

EHREN PAINTER

Saints will be glad to see the talented young prop back in action and he had a reasonable day... 6

DAVID RIBBANS

Will be a hugely important player again for Saints this season and he made some typically bone-crunching carries here... 7

LEWIS BEAN

Another big shift from the big man as he continues to get his foot in the door at Franklin's Gardens... 6

ALEX COLES

Continues to look a real prospect as he moved into the back row and competed well with some of Wasps' star men... 7

TOM WOOD

Thundered into a few tackles and refused to relent in defence as he tried to stop Wasps having it all their own way in attack... 7

MITCH EADIE

Made a brilliant tap tackle early on to prevent what looked set to be a certain try and then pouched an intercept score in a lively showing... 7

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)

RYAN OLOWOFELA (for Sleightholme 33)

Another bouncy display from the wing, who came into the action earlier than expected, but he wasn't able to have a real say on proceedings... 6

TEIMANA HARRISON (for Bean 53)

Did some superb work to set up a Saints try and this was a really lively 27 minutes from the all-action flanker... 7

BEN FRANKS (for Waller 58)

Saints will often turn to this man's experience from the bench this season but he wasn't quite able to help them over the line here... 6

FRASER DINGWALL (for Symons 58)

Scored one try with a flying finish in the corner and came agonisingly close to a second that would have won it for Saints... 7

CHRON STAR MAN - Nizaam Carr (Wasps)