Saints seal final spot

Scott Armstrong dives over for Northampton at Franklin's Gardens

Northampton Saints booked an all-English LV= Cup final tie with Leicester after overcoming Scarlets 27-12 at Franklin's Gardens.

The Saints scored either side of half-time through Alex Waller and Scott Armstrong and were aided by the boot of Stephen Myler, who slotted over 14 points.

The visiting Scarlets were the more creative side but could only muster four Stephen Jones penalties for their efforts.

Scarlets started brightly and had a try chalked off on eight minutes when Dominic Day was adjudged to have been held up by some desperate home defence.

Scarlets declined to take a kickable penalty in favour of more attacking options and they almost earned their reward when Andy Fenby stormed clear only to be hauled down 10 metres short by an excellent cover tackle.

Foolish

Scarlets were made to pay for those missed opportunities when Northampton took a 15th-minute lead. The Saints won a lineout 10m out from the visitors' line and had little problem in driving over for a Waller try, which was converted by Myler with the outside half then adding a penalty.

Scarlets collected their first points when Jones kicked a 45m penalty after Saints infringed at the lineout but this was nullified with a second successful penalty from Myler.

Straight from the restart, Northampton foolishly gave away a penalty and Jones made no mistake with his kick to leave his side 13-6 behind at the interval.

Within three minutes of the restart Jones had further reduced the arrears with his third penalty, this time a kick from 40m, but Northampton soon responded with an excellent try.

The Saints produced their best passage of play, pressurising the Scarlets' defence in their own 22.

There were key drives from James Craig and Waller before a missed tackle on George Pisi allowed the centre to send Armstrong in at the corner for the try which Myler was unable to convert.

Back came Scarlets and a further Jones penalty made it 18-12 to the hosts with half an hour remaining, but two well-struck penalties from Myler gave the Saints a healthy 12-point advantage.

Scarlets continued to give away too many needless penalties which prevented them building up any real momentum. Replacement Ryan Lamb hit a post with a long-distance penalty but then succeeded with another, after Day was sin-binned for offside, to give the Saints an ultimately comfortable victory.