Wing Oli Smith was the hero as Warriors made it back-to-back wins in the Premiership Rugby Under-18s Academy League in a fast and furious encounter at Sixways.
Smith settled an entertaining encounter with a long-range interception try four minutes from time which also gave Warriors a bonus point.
Until then it looked like Northampton might head home with a win as they had taken the lead with a close range try from centre Archie Kean midway through the second half and they were going through the phases again when Smith snaffled a pass just inside the 22 and galloped away for a try under the posts.
Dan Chambers added an important conversion which meant Northampton needed a try to take victory. There was still time for Northampton to launch a couple of attacks in injury time but Warriors were resolute in defence.
There was little between the sides throughout with hooker Ethan Allen going over for two close range tries for Warriors before the break either side of another interception effort from flanker Owen Boxall from near to halfway.
But it was all square at 17-17 at half-time as Northampton responded with a brace of tries from left wing Toby Cousins after lock George Lavender had crashed over on an overlap.
Warriors regained the lead ten minutes into the second half when fly-half Jack Condliffe banged over a penalty, a score that increased in value as the game went on.
The game appeared to have tilted in Northampton’s favour when Kean crashed over from a series of close-range attacks and fly-half Tommy Taylor added the conversion.
But Smith’s anticipation proved decisive when he pounced as Northampton tried to work another overlap and his speed did the rest.
Warriors Under-18s | 15 Dan Chambers (Stourport HS and Wolverhampton), 14 Oli Smith (Hartpury College and Abergavenny), 13 Will Pugh (Stourport HS and Luctonians), 12 Archie Jones (Stourport HS and Bridgnorth), 11 Jack Kinder (Solihull School and Silhillians), 10 Jack Condliffe (Stourport HS and Luctonians), 9 Alex Terry (King’s School and Worcester), 1 Lewys Walsh (Hartpury College and Aberdare), 2 Ethan Allen (Stourport HS and Telford Hornets), 3 Will Couch Hartpury College and Berkswell), 4 Will Chater (King’s Worcester and Worcester), 5 Harvey Cuckson (Ellesmere College ND Mold) 6 Sam Hawes (King’s School and Ledbury), 7 Owen Boxall (Bishop Vesey’s GS and Lichfield), 8 Theo Mayell (Monmouth School and Monmouth – captain).
Replacements | 16 Loïc Keasey (RGS Worcester and Worcester), 17 Ellis Locke (Stourport HS and Ledbury), 18 Aaron Hackett (Stourport HS and Stourbridge), 19 Sam Erskine (KES Stratford and Claverdon), 20 Woody Facey (Hartpury College), 21 Reiss Price (Stourport HS & Barkers’ Butts), 22 Billy Emerick (Stourport HS and Upton on Severn), 23 Mikey Yalland (Stourport HS).
Timeline
14m | Allen try 5-0
18m | Lavender try 5-5
19m | Taylor con 5-7
20m | Cousins try 5-12
27m | Boxall try 10-12
28m | Condliffe con 12-12
32m | Allen try 17-12
35m | Cousins try 17-17
46m | Condliffe pen 20-17
50m | Kean try 20-22
51m | Taylor con 20-24
66m | Smith try 25-24
67m | Chambers con 27-24