Saints overrun the Borders

The Borders 3 Northampton 39

Northampton stepped up their Pool Four qualification bid in the Heineken Cup with an emphatic win over winless Borders at Netherdale.

The Scots had high hopes of breaking their Cup duck after giving the Zurich Premiership outfit a run for their money at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend.

However, such was Northampton’s dominance that they had victory and a bonus point wrapped up before half-time.

Just seconds had elapsed before an ill-tempered exchange between Borders prop Craig Dunlea and Scotland front row Tom Smith saw both players yellow-carded.

Home hopes were raised shortly afterwards when Tanner Vili kicked the Scots ahead after the visiting pack strayed offside.

However, Northampton asserted their authority after nine minutes when Nikki Walker could only palm Paul Grayson’s teasing kick into the path of Bruce Reihana who accepted the gift.

Grayson stretched the lead with a penalty soon after before the Saints’ superior forward power brought a second touchdown. They won clean line-out possession to set up lock Mark Connors who drove over and Grayson converted.

Hopes of a Borders comeback were virtually snuffed out midway through the first half when World Cup winger Ben Cohen sped over for Northampton’s third try. Again Grayson added the extras.

Borders rallied briefly with a period of sustained pressure but they lacked the telling pass to break down a stubborn Saints rearguard.

Instead it was Cohen who struck again before the break when he clinically finished a move involving Mark Robinson and Reihana.

Former Scotland hero John Leslie piled on the misery on the restart with a superb solo try which was converted by Shane Drahm, a half-time replacement for Grayson.

Borders refused to throw in the towel but Saints’ superior power and pace proved too much for them again when Oriol Ripol raced over for the visitors’ sixth and final try of the night.