HEINEKEN CUP POOL 4 Northampton (6) 25 Tries: Cohen 3 Cons: Grayson 2 Pens: Grayson 2 Agen (7) 10 Try: Elhorga Con: Gelez Pens: Gelez Att: 11,523

A hat-trick of tries by England World Cup star Ben Cohen helped Northampton get their Heineken Cup campaign back on track against Agen at Franklin's Gardens.

After losing 14-9 to Llanelli last week, the Saints badly needed a win but they were made to work very hard for the points.

Saints earned an early advantage when Agen skipper Jean-Jacques Crenc was red-carded for head-butting hooker Steve Thompson after just six minutes.

An early Paul Grayson penalty had given the home side the lead, but a slip in wet conditions by scrum-half Mark Robinson when he was clearing the ball proved costly.

The former All Black failed to make touch and Agen full-back Pepito Elhorga immediately counter-attacked straight into the Saints' 22 for a try converted by fly-half Francois Gelaez.

Grayson put the Saints back in contention with a second penalty and with Galaez receiving a yellow card, Northampton started to exert their superiority.

If we had lost this game the Heineken Cup would have been over for us Saints boss Wayne Smith

They failed to break through Agen's defence for the remainder of the half but that all changed after the restart as they came out firing on all cylinders.

The Saints threw everything they had at their French opponents and the reward finally came when Cohen jinked his way across the try line on the left wing.

Grayson converted but again Agen remained in touch with a Galez penalty a minute later.

Cohen's second after 68 minutes put the game firmly in Northampton's reach, however.

Again Agen's defence had been tested to the limit and it was good work by substitute John Leslie who set up the score.

The Scotsman scooped the ball out of the scrum and passed out wide to the left wing for lock Mark Connors to send Cohen flying over the try line.

Northampton: N Beal, B Reihana, C Hyndman, M Tucker, B Cohen, P Grayson, M Robinson, T Smith, S Thompson, R Morris, R Hunter, M Connors, G Seely, D Fox, A Blowers.
Replacements: D Richmond, C Budgen, J Golding, M Soden, J Howard, S Drahm, J Leslie.

Agen: P Elhorga; C Coro, C Stoltz, S Bonetti, L Lafforgue; F Gelez, M Barrau; J-J Crenca (capt), N Curnier, O Hasan, S Nouchi, J-M Parent, M Lievremont, M Kahla, S Socol.
Replacements: P Piacentini, P Blanco, L Fior, O Sverzut, F Tandonnet, G Bouic, S Mirande.