Saints storm into semis

Northampton came storming back to beat Llanelli Scarlets 33-20, with the bonus point victory sending them into the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup.

The Saints hit the Welsh side with a four-try fightback that gave them the victory, the bonus point and a place in the last four of the competition.

Scarlets took the early advantage with tries from Regan King and Matthew Stoddart, but Saints hit back with two Chris Ashton tries before half time.

Skipper Bruce Reihana then crossed the line early in the second half before Scotland international winger Sean Lamont sealed a memorable win with his score.

Scarlets got a late John Davies try but, after needing just a draw to win Pool D, they let it slip away at Franklin's Gardens.

Scarlets start

Kiwi centre King went over in the right-hand corner for Scarlets after just five minutes, and Stoddart bagged a second try for the visitors just three minutes later.

Ashton's first try came after 11 frenetic minutes as he collected a long Ben Foden pass to beat Sililo Martens in the corner.

After exchanging penalties, Northampton then drew level on 29 minutes with winger Ashton doing the damage again, his pace getting him over the line from a slightly dubious Reihana pass.

The Saints went ahead for the first time five minutes after the break when their skipper Reihana took a short Foden pass before bursting through three tacklers and crashing over the line.

After being overwhelmed early on, Northampton were now well on top and Lamont bagged the bonus point with their fourth try on 65 minutes, when he went over by the posts after being picked out by Lee Dickson's pass.

Sin-binned

Centre James Downey was sin-binned for Northampton after taking out Stephen Jones off the ball and the Scarlets took advantage with a try against the 14 men seven minutes from time through Davies.

But Stephen Myler's third penalty soon after extinguished any Scarlets hopes of a comeback victory, and it was Northampton who took the win and the place in the semis.