HEINEKEN CUP POOL FOUR Northampton (10) 20 Tries: Ripol, Beal, Fox Pen: Drahm Con: Drahm Borders (3) 3 Pen: Laidlaw

The former European champions were on top from the start and were rewarded with a 10th-minute try from Darren Fox.

Australian fly-half Shane Drahm converted and from then on there was no way back for Borders.

Nick Beal and Oriol Ripol went over for further scores in the second half to help the Saints to victory.

Half-time substitute Paul Grayson set up Bruce Reihana, who looked certain to cross the line before being brought down just short.

That was a very disappointing display Northampton coach Wayne Smith

Full-back Beal finished off the move as the ball was recycled out wide.

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

Although Saints pushed forward in search of their fourth try and a bonus point, they were unable to make further inroads.

The defeat leaves Borders rooted to the bottom of Pool 4 with three defeats from three matches.

Northampton: Beal, Ripol, Reihana, Leslie, Cohen, Drahm, Howard, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Lord, Connors, Blowers, Fox, Seely. Replacements: Richmond, Budgen, Soden, Sturgess, Robinson,Tucker, Grayson.

Borders: S. Patterson, N. Walker, Stuart, Utterson, Moir, Laidlaw, Cusiter, Todd, Ford, Douglas, MacLeod, Stewart, Rennick, Feather, Sititi. Replacements: Dunlea, Scott, Weir, T. Walker, Kane, Armstrong, Fairley.