Northampton Saints marked their return to the Guinness Premiership with a fantastic opening day win at Franklin's Gardens.

The game was in the balance at the break but two second half tries from Dylan Hartley and Jon Clarke saw Saints come back to the top flight with a bang.

With six starters making their debut, the five in the pack had a huge influence, with new openside flanker Scott Gray made man of the match.

Saints' return to the Premiership was greeted by a huge roar and a mammoth rendition of 'Oh When the Saints…'

It was a charged atmosphere for the opening game back in the top flight but it started with a familiar failing.

Poor kicking saw Saints relegated the last time they in the Premiership and twice Bruce Reihana had the chance to give Saints the perfect start, but he missed both penalties.

First the Saints captain missed from 35m after 10 minutes and three minutes later the ball sailed wide again from about 33m.

And when Worcester's rookie fly-half Matthew Jones landed his first attempt from 23m some Saints fans were having terrible flashbacks.

Chants of 'Bruce, Bruce..' finally rang out as Reihana eased his and everybody else's nerves by landing his third effort from 28m to make it 3-3 as Worcester were penalised at the re-start.

It was just reward for a Saints pack, with an all new back five, that were largely on top and gave the home side plenty of possession and territory to work with.

But this is a Premiership defence and there was little room for whizzkid Chris Ashton in his first game in the top flight. And from the restart Jones was given another penalty chance and the fly-half, also in his first Premiership game, made it two out of two from 20m.

On 32 minutes Saints looked to have got the first try when after sustained pressure in Worcester's 22, Neil Best, who put in a powerful first half display, burst over.

But referee Sean Davey very harshly ruled it out for the ball going forward from Paul Shields' as the ball flew to Best, replays showed it should have stood. Jones missed a 52m penalty effort to leave it 6-3 at the break.

Saints started the second half well and under pressure Worcester's Tom Woods killed the ball to receive a yellow card. Reihana landed the penalty to make it 6-6.

Spencer and co stepped up a gear and the Kiwi's grubber kick saw Jon Clarke get their first a metre from the line, James Downey rucked well and Dickson had five men to his left but a Worcester hand allowed them to clear.

But Saints regrouped and Dylan Hartley, fresh on, smashed through, and without being held touched down. Reihana missed the conversion to make it 11-6.

Jones missed a penalty from 35m, before Clarke was on the end of a great dummy from Roger Wilson that drew two men for the centre to score in the corner. Reihana got the touchline conversion to make it 18-6.

But Worcester weren't about to give up and a lineout move saw Sam Tuitopou burst through from 40m and hooker Aleki Lutui picked up to smash through Hartley and Ashton. Jones landed the conversion to make it 18-13.

From the restart, though, Tuitopou was penalised for coming in at the side and Reihana kicked the easy penalty.

At 21-13 the crowd were able to countdown the clock for an opening day win.

Saints
Reihana, Ashton, Clarke, Downey, Lamont, Spencer, Dickson, Tonga'uiha, Shields, Murray, Lobbe, Day, Best, Gray, Wilson
Replacements: Hartley, Smith, Lord, Hopley, Foden, Myler, Ansbro

Worcester
Latham, Gear, Rasmussen, Tuitupou, Benjamin, Jones, Powell, Mullan, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Talei, Wood, Hortsman
Replacements: Horsman, Fortey, Bowley, Collins, Powell, Chricton, Pennell


Att: 13,094