Cardiff Blues (9) 9
Pens: Flanagan 3
Northampton Saints (20) 42
Tries Diggin, Foden, Ashton, Downey, Ansbro Cons: Myler 3 Pens: Myler 3, Geraghty 1

Gareth Thomas cannot get through the stern Northampton defence

Cardiff Blues continued their disappointing pre-season as the Welsh club were comprehensively outclassed by a strong Northampton Saints side.

Saints fly-half Stephen Myler impressed in a man-of-the-match display as the England Saxon kicked 15 points.

The Heineken Cup semi-finalists and EDF Energy trophy winners only scored thanks to three Dai Flanagan penalties.

Paul Diggin, Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, James Downey and Joe Ansbro all touched down for the impressive Northampton.

Cardiff Blues director of rugby Dai Young:
"It was hugely disappointing, we were lucky to be second. In no area of the game; in attack, in defence or at the set piece can we be happy about tonight's performance.

"We have got a lot of work to do but pre-season is the best time to have these poor performances. We are not going to panic but I have said to the players throughout this pre-season that while we did well last season, that is history - we have to go out and prove ourselves again."

Cardiff Blues: Chris Czekaj; Richard Mustoe; Dafydd James, Gareth Thomas; Leigh Halfpenny; Dai Flanagan, Gareth Cooper; John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas, Gary Powell, Bradley Davies, Paul Tito (capt), Andries Pretorius, Robin Sowden Taylor, Xavier Rush
Replacements: Darren Morris (for Yapp, 40), Gareth Williams (for TR Thomas, 51), Scott Morgan (for Tiro, 55), Sam Warburton (for Sowden Taylor, 55), Maama Molitika (for Pretorius, 40), Richie Rees (for Cooper, 63), Ceri Sweeney (for Flanagan, 40), Sam Norton Knight (for G Thomas, 63), Ryan Howells (for Halfpenny, 63)

Northampton Saints:
Ben Foden, Paul Diggin, Jon Clarke, Shane Geraghty, Chris Mayor, Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson; Roger Wilson, Neil Best, Phil Dowson, Courtney Lawes, Juandre Kruger, Santiago Bonorino, Dylan Hartley (capt), Soane Tonga'uiha
Replacements: Brett Sharman, Regardt Dreyer, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Jon Vickers, Scott Gray, Alan Dickens, James Downey, Christian Day, Joe Ansbro, Chris Ashton

Referee: James Jones

Attendance: 8,578

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