POWERGEN CUP Northampton (18) 32: Tries: Lamont, Clarke, Robinson, Reihana Cons: Reihana (3) Pens: Reihana (2) Dragons (0) 7: Tries: Wyatt Cons: Warlow

Saints opened an 18-0 first-half lead with two Bruce Reihana penalties and tries from Sean Lamont and Jon Clarke.

Mark Robinson then scored the try of the night with a superb 40-metre solo effort four minutes after the break.

Reihana secured what could prove to be a crucial bonus point when he crossed for a fourth try before Gareth Wyatt's late try got the Dragons on the board.

Nothing but a home win looked the likely result once Lamont forced his way over in the right corner after just six minutes following a sweeping move from the left.

Referee Tony Spreadbury referred the decision to the video referee who rightly judged that the Scottish winger had grounded the ball before being forced over under Hal Luscombe's challenge.

Our pack laid the platform again Northampton's Budge Pountney

Northampton took a more direct route for their second try some 10 minutes later as some Carlos Spencer magic sent Clark over to score under the posts.

Reihana converted and added his second penalty to open a 18-0 lead after 27 minutes.

The Dragons, much changed from their opening win over Leicester, felt they should have been awarded a penalty try when Lamont impeded Hal Luscombe as he chased his kick towards the Saints tryline.

Lamont was sent to the sin for the offence, but the woeful Dragons failed to capitalise as they lost the ball as they opted to play the ball instead of kicking for the posts.

The Saints need just four minutes of the second half to score a third try - the best of the night.

It's hugely disappointing for us Dragons coach Paul Turner

Scrum-half Robinson picked up from the base of a scrum, beat the cover defence for pace and found a clear path to the tryline with a textbook dummy pass to beat the last man.

Reihana added the extra points from in front of the posts.

The match had died as a contest by the time Reihana provided some late cheer for the slumbering spectators when he dived underneath the posts after cutting through a gapping Dragons defence.

The video referee was again called into action when Wyatt slid over in the right corner to give the Dragons something to show for their effort.

Craig Warlow added the conversion from the touchline, but the defeat means and Nothampton's bonus point means the Dragons cannot qualify for the semi-finals.

Northampton: Reihana (capt); Lamont, Clarke, Quinlan, Cohen; Spencer, Robinson; Smith, Richmond, Budgen, Boome, Browne, Thompson, Fox, Soden.
Replacements: Hartley, Sturgess, Gerard, Harding, Howard, Davies, Mallon.

Dragons: Tuipulotu; Wyatt, Luscombe, Bryant, Breeze; Sweeney, Baber; Maddocks, Brown, Thomas, Charteris, Sidoli, Bryan, Ringer, Owen (capt).
Replacements: Jones, Black, Gough, Forster, Morgan, Warlow, Cooper.