NEC Harlequins 16 Northampton Saints 24 Harlequins' dire run of defeats in the Zurich Premiership was extended to six at the Stoop on Saturday as Northampton continued their recent resurgence under the guidance of Wayne Smith to emerge 16-24 victors.

Injuries continue to plague the Quins and as a result their line-up against the Saints contained several young faces. Dave Slemen and England call-up Nick Duncombe were joined by 18-year-old centre Chris Bell and second half substitute Karl Rudzki against a visiting side without the injured Matt Dawson.

Playing in strong wind and on sodden turf, this was an entertaining game punctuated by inevitable handling errors. Quins began promisingly, the reliable Burke, the Premiership's second highest points scorer this season, successfully landing his first penalty after three minutes. Former England fly half Paul Grayson replied with a penalty for the visitors before Burke again struck to recapture the lead at 6-3.

However, the Saints soon wrestled back into the ascendancy and a display of forward power, initiated by a lightening break from scrum half Jamie Brooks, ended with British Lions prop, Tom Smith, driving over the tryline after a succession of rolling mauls. Grayson made no mistake with the conversion to leave the score at 6-10. The Saints almost added to their total minutes later when they camped in the Quins 22 after Matt Moore was forced into touch, but the home defence held firm.

Indeed Harlequins might have scored a try themselves after Slemen made a fine break to feed Rob Jewell, but the winger was dumped into touch short of the line. Burke then pulled the scoring margin back to a point with a penalty after Grayson was sent to sin bin for deliberate offside and the two sides went into the break with the scores tantalisingly posed at 9-10.

Immediately after the restart the 14 men of Northampton increased their lead when Nick Beal broke through the defence and released Ben Cohen for the try, which Beal then failed to convert.

The home crowd soon had a try of their own to cheer, Duncombe's energetic break eventually sending Bell in for a deserved score, Burke was on target again for the extra points.

The Saints, now back to their full complement of players, then stretched their lead, eventually putting the game beyond the Quins' reach with a late drop-goal. Grayson relieved Beal of the kicking duties and to good effect as he slotted two penalties in the final quarter of the game.

Then, in the dying minutes, confusion between Moore and Slemen, as the home side looked desperately for a winning try, led to the visitors gaining possession and as the clock ran down, Grayson dropped the goal that ended Quins hopes of a comeback and pushes them further down to lower reaches of the league table.