Northampton Saints beat Newcastle Red Bulls 28-27 at Franklin’s Gardens to go top of the table in a game that also included a gruesome double injury for George Furbank and Sammy Arnold.The incident occurred in the first half when Red Bulls centre Arnold went high on Saints full-back Furbank. Arnold was shown a yellow card and Furbank had to go off for treatment, but the result of the collision was long-lasting
Furbank returned to the field having had stitches, but by the end of the game, his eye had closed due to the swelling.
Arnold was replaced permanently, though, and appeared to have knocked out two of his teeth. Indeed, the Irishman was caught on television showing his team-mates the damage – before spotting the camera and obligingly grinning to show the problem
Otherwise, Northampton edged it after a disjointed performance against the bottom side in the table.
Saints were tested to the full by their visitors, who overcame the loss of two yellow cards, to come close to picking up only their second league win of the season.
