Northampton put their domestic troubles behind them to record a second
successive Heineken Cup victory and remain firmly on course for the
quarter-finals.
Saints now face crucial back-to-back appointments with unbeaten Pool Three
rivals Toulouse when the tournament resumes in December, but Llanelli - twice
Heineken Cup semi-finalists - are facing an early exit.
Northampton entered the European arena against Glasgow last weekend on the
back of five successive Zurich Premiership defeats, but former England fly-half
Paul Grayson's comeback from injury proved significant.
Grayson returned for his first start since suffering a broken hand during the
league reversal against Gloucester six weeks ago.
And he provided a calming influence throughout, ensuring there would be no
repeat of Llanelli's Heineken Cup victory at Franklin's Gardens last season,
when Saints were sent crashing out.
Tries during the closing first-half minutes from flanker Darren Fox and wing
Wylie Human gave Northampton a cushion, and they did not relent in front of an
11,939 crowd.
Grayson chipped in with two penalties and two conversions, while Human's
second try five minutes from time left Llanelli with no way back and Saints fans
enjoying some overdue success.
Welsh teams have yet to register a Heineken Cup win in six attempts this
season. With Llanelli and Cardiff Blues now effectively out of contention, it
leaves Newport-Gwent Dragons and Neath-Swansea Ospreys, who both play on Sunday,
as the Principality's only realistic hopes.
Northampton have no such immediate concerns, but rugby director Alan Solomons
must demand a Premiership improvement during four league games next month, given
that Saints plummeted from first to 10th during their losing run.
Like Grayson, Northampton prop Tom Smith also shrugged off an injury problem,
but England hooker Steve Thompson was ruled out by a rib injury, missing his
second successive Heineken Cup game.
Llanelli made one enforced change, replacing injured lock Vernon Cooper with
Adam Jones.
The Scarlets began brightly, launching an immediate raid into Northampton
territory, and although Saints displayed defensive resilience, they conceded a
fourth-minute penalty that Arwel Thomas sent sailing over.
Northampton took a while to settle, but their first attack featured a
blistering break by full-back Bruce Reihana, whose inside pass to wing Ben Cohen
gave the England star time and space, but he was halted by three Llanelli
defenders.
Grayson sent a 16th-minute penalty attempt narrowly wide, but he made amends
four minutes later when Arwel Thomas drifted offside, and Saints enjoyed a
foothold, inspired by Reihana's creative excellence.
Llanelli were forced into a prolonged defensive rearguard, and it took a
crunching tackle by Scarlets wing Tal Selley on his opposite number Human to
deny Saints a try their territorial control deserved.
Grayson booted his second penalty five minutes before half-time, and they
preserved their lead after Thomas missed an easy chance from 25 metres out.
Northampton, buoyed by the let-off, responded by sending Cohen on a menacing
run, and after linking with scrum-half Mark Robinson, Fox powered over for the
opening try a minute before half-time.
The situation immediately worsened for Llanelli, whose collective lapse of
concentration in midfield enabled centre Chris Hyndman to throw out a
defence-splitting pass from turnover possession, and Human finished off for an
18-3 interval lead.
Llanelli had it all to do in the second period, faced by such an alarming
deficit, and coach Gareth Jenkins undoubtedly read the riot act at half-time.
Jenkins made a triple interval substitution, sending on fly-half Gareth Bowen,
wing Salesi Finau and front-row forward Phil John, but they could make little
headway, and the third quarter proved scoreless.
Scarlets number eight Scott Quinnell received a warning from referee Alain
Rolland following an incident at a ruck, and that summed up Llanelli's day as
Saints went for another score during the closing stages.
Llanelli looked a shadow of the team that has challenged so strongly during
previous Heineken Cup campaigns, but their demise is indicative of current
collective Welsh form in Europe.
Human's late touchdown sealed the deal for Saints, and although they fell
short in the determined quest for a try-scoring bonus point, there was no
doubting their overall supremacy.
Teams:
Northampton: Reihana, Human, Stcherbina, Hyndman, Cohen,
Grayson, Robinson, Smith, Richmond, Budgen, Lord, Browne, Fox,
Krige, Blowers.
Replacements: Howard for Robinson (79),
Sturgess for Smith (71), van Wyk for Richmond (68),
Seely for Lord (67).
Not Used: O'Donoghue, Drahm, Vilk.
Tries: Fox, Human 2.
Cons: Grayson 2.
Pens: Grayson 2.
Llanelli Scarlets: B. Davies, Evans, Watkins, Taylor, Selley,
A. Thomas, Peel, I. Thomas, Rees, J. Davies, A. Jones, Wyatt,
D. Jones, Easterby, Quinnell.
Replacements: Finau for B. Davies (40),
Bowen for A. Thomas (40), Phillips for Peel (76),
John for I. Thomas (40), G. Thomas for D. Jones (63).
Not Used: Hawkins, Griffiths.
Pens: A. Thomas.
Att: 11,939
Ref: Alan Rowlands (Ireland).
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