Northampton 52-30 Wasps: George North knocked unconscious A controversial red card for Wasps' Nathan Hughes saw Northampton come from behind to win a tumultuous clash 52-30 at Franklin's Gardens and move 14 points clear at the top of the Premiership. Northampton 52-30 Wasps: George North knocked out as Nathan Hughes sees red and the Saints stay top of the Aviva Premiership with a comprehensive win George North was knocked out after a clash with Wasps Nathan Hughes Northampton Saints won comfortably to stay top of the Aviva Premiership Hughes was sent off the tackle which was deemed to be dangerous play Christian Wade scored a hat-trick but it wasn't enough for Wasps Click here for all the A controversial red card for Wasps' Nathan Hughes saw Northampton come from behind to win a tumultuous clash 52-30 at Franklin's Gardens and move 14 points clear at the top of the Premiership. Hughes was sent off for kneeing Northampton and British Lions winger George North in the head as he scored Saints' and his second try. The Wasps number eight complained it was unintentional, but after watching replays on the big screen, referee Craig Maxwell-Keys decided to issue a red card five minutes before half-time. The winger was knocked out immediately before receiving lengthy medical treatment for his knock After suffering concussion in Wales's opening Six Nations match against England, when he was knocked out twice, there were worrying scenes as North lay motionless on the ground. He started moving shortly afterwards as medics attended to him before he was stretchered from the pitch. A minute before the incident, after 34 minutes, Alex Lozowski kicked a penalty to put Wasps 20-8 in front, but they went in 27-20 down at half-time after a dramatic turnaround saw Northampton add two tries from lineout drives after North's try. Northampton hit straight back as Stephen Myler fired a crossfield kick into the arms of North to score, while Myler hit the post with the conversion to leave Wasps 7-5 in front. The home side were offside at the restart allowing Lozowski to add three more points and the fly-half then showed an electric turn of pace to skip through a gap to send Wade flying over, while Lozowski converted from the touchline to make it 17-5 after 20 minutes. Myler and Lozowski exchanged penalties, before the match-turning incident. Samu Manoa caught the re-start and sent North powering into the corner, but as he grounded the ball the Hughes ran into him, kneeing the Welsh winger in the head. North appeared knocked out, lying motionless for a short while. As the medics got to him he started moving and after a lengthy delay he was stretchered off. Meanwhile, Maxwell-Keys showed Hughes a red card. Hughes complained to the referee as he walked off and a Wasps water carrier - conditioning coach Dan Baugh - had to be pulled away as he argued with Saints forwards coach Dorian West on the touchline. After a long wait Myler missed the touchline conversion, but Saints had a penalty from the restart and Myler booted it into the corner. Saints' maul steamrollered towards the line only to be dragged down and Maxwell-Keys awarded a penalty try. Myler's conversion suddenly made it 20-20 Stephen Myler prepares to kick a conversion after George North's try for the Northampton Saints The comeback was short lived though, as three minutes later Ken Pisi touched down and two tries in two minutes from Ahsee Tuala, plus two conversions by Myler saw Northampton bring up the half-century. Referee Craig Maxwell-Keys angered Wasps director of rugby Dai Young by producing the card after watching replays. But Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder insisted: ‘It was reckless coming in with the knee and some serious consequences happened because of that. The opposition have to be very careful once the try has been scored.

• published: 28 Mar 2015
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