HEINEKEN CUP POOL 4 Borders (3) 8 Try: Paterson Pen: Vili Agen (3) 3 Pen: Gelez

The two sides turned around 3-3 at half-time but the hosts sealed the win with a try from full-back Scott Paterson after the break.

Borders, previously winless in Pool 4, remained bottom of the group with Agen in third.

In what was a drab contest, the French side piled on some late pressure but the home team held firm.

Francois Gelez and Tanner Vili traded early penalties before play became bogged down with few genuine try-scoring opportunities.

The home side suffered a setback when centre Jono Stuart was helped off clutching a shoulder. He was replaced by Gareth Morton.

Vili squandered a second penalty opportunity as the Borders continued to give as good as they got.

However, the Borders were handed a boost shortly after the break when towering Agen lock Meaher Kahla was yellow-carded for a string of infringements.

And the home side made the extra man count when they stormed ahead after 50 minutes.

Paterson created the overlap with a brilliantly timed run and the full-back was unstoppable as he plunged over in the right-hand corner.

However, Morton was unable to convert and later failed to give his side breathing space with a long-range penalty which drifted wide.

A yellow card for Andy Rennick set up a nervy finish but the Borders held out as the French threw everything at them.

Scarlets beat Northampton 18-9 to top the group and ensure a home draw in the quarters as Saints failed to qualify.

Borders: S Paterson; N Walker, J Stuart, K Utterson, C Moir; T Vili, G Armstrong; C Dunlea, R Ford, B Douglas, S MacLeod, C Stewart, A Rennick, S Sititi, D Kane.
Replacements: S Scott, G Cross, K Todd, T Walker, I Fairley, C Murray, G Morton.

Agen: P Elhorga; S Mirande, S Bonetti, G Bouic, O Sarramea; F Gelez, F Tandonnet; P Blanco, P Piacentini, O Hasan, M Kahla, J Parent, O Sverzut, P Benetton, E Bertrand.
Replacements: R Lauga, J Crenca, V Maimuri, M Lievremont, M Barrau, J Miquel, C Stolz.

Referee: Hugh Watkins (Wales).