Saints sail past Perpignan

Clarke: Try in first half

Northampton booked their place in the final of the Heineken Cup by claiming a comfortable 23-7 victory over Perpignan at stadium:mk.

The Saints dominated the first half, surging into a 20-point lead after tries from Ben Foden and Jon Clarke, with the boot of Stephen Myler adding the rest.

Perpignan were given hope as Guilhem Guirado crossed just before the interval, but the hosts remained in control after the break and were rarely troubled as they completed the win.

A showdown with Leinster now awaits in the final in Cardiff, with Northampton still on track to become the first side to claim the European crown and go unbeaten in the process.

Northampton tried to move the ball quickly early on, but it was the visitors who looked sharper as the Saints struggled to get out of their own half.

Spark

Neither side threatened the try-line in the opening stages, however, as Nicolas Laharrague missed a speculative drop goal attempt and Myler sent a penalty wide.

The match was sparked into life in the 14th minute as Northampton flanker Phil Dowson's break set up a huge overlap on the right and full-back Foden crossed for an easy score.

Myler added the conversion and extended the lead with a long range penalty in the 24th minute after a questionable offside call against Perpignan centre David Marty.

The fly-half scuffed a subsequent attempt badly but a knock-on by Julien Candelon gave Northampton possession straight back in a dangerous position.

And the hosts took advantage as Clarke raced through a disorganised Perpignan defence to touch down, while Myler's conversion made it 17-0.

Candelon took out his frustrations by upending Lee Dickson in the air from the restart and was shown the yellow card by referee George Clancey.

Fall

Dickson took a horrible-looking fall on his head but was able to play on as Northampton continued to dominate, with Myler knocking over a simple penalty to take the lead out to 20 points.

However, Perpignan brought themselves into the match on the stroke of half-time when hooker Guirado dived over the try-line following a catch and drive from a close-range lineout.

The Saints were back on top after the break, with Soane Tonga'uiha in the thick of the action and his front-row partner Dylan Hartley just being denied a try by a fine tackle from Guirado.

Myler nailed a tough penalty from the right as Northampton were given some reward for their pressure, before fending off a threat at the other end as Perpignan again drove from a lineout.

An overthrown lineout from Hartley then almost let the visitors in for a try but the Saints escaped with a touch of fortune, as it appeared Clarke took out Rimas Alvarez off the ball.

But Northampton quickly snuffed out any momentum the French side were building and were in cruise control as the clock ran down.