NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 20 THE BORDERS 3

Northampton Saints out-scored The Borders by three tries to nil in front of a big crowd at Franklin's Gardens, the European champions of 2000 are now firmly on course to qualify for the quarter-final.

In the opening 10 minutes the Saints pounded the visitors line, and could have closed the game early, lead but instead wasted three gilt-edged opportunities.

Bit flanker Darren Fox dived over the line when a scrum near to Borders' line provided him with a platform to score, there was never any doubt about the result.

Shane Drahm converted that try and then the Australian outside-half added to Northampton's lead with a 22nd minute penalty but Borders cancelled Drahm's three points with a penalty from his opposite number Clark Laidlaw.

Going into the second half knowing that they needed to make their mark on the game Saints still failed to further their advantage.

Head coach Wayne Smith opted to swap Mark Robinson and Paul Grayson for Johnny Howard and Drahm to shake up the game and it worked.

Grayson made an immediate impact as Northampton piled the pressure on Borders defence.

The World Cup winning fly-half set up Bruce Reihane who looked certain to cross the line before being brought down just short.

But full-back Nick Beal finished off the move as the ball was recycled out wide.

Grayson made a mess of the conversion to leave the home side 15-3 up but he made amends minutes later when his clever chip through set up winger Oriol Ripol to score.

Grayson again failed with the conversion but it did not matter as Northampton left Borders sunk at the bottom of Pool 4 with three defeats out of three.

Northampton Saints 20 The Borders 3 HT: 10-3 Attendance: 11,713

Northampton Saints: Tries - D Fox, N Beal, O Ripol; Con - S Drahm; Pen - S Drahm
The Borders: Pen - C Laidlaw
Northampton Saints: N Beal; O Ripol, B Reihana, J Leslie, B Cohen; S Drahm, J Howard; T Smith, S Thompson, R Morris, M Lord, M Connors, A Blowers, D Fox, G Seely
Replacements: D Richmond, C Budgen, M Soden, B Sturgess, TBC, M Tucker, P Grayson
Scottish Borders: S Paterson; N Walker, J Stuart, K Utterson, C Moir; C Laidlaw, C Cusiter; K Todd, R Ford, B Douglas, S Macleod, C Stewart, A Rennick, C Feather, S Sititi
Replacements: S Scott, C Dunlea, D Weir, T Walker, D Kane, G Armstrong, I Fairley

Heineken man of the match: Oriol Ripol (Northampton Saints)
Match points: Northampton Saints 4 pts; The Borders 0 pts