Northampton enjoyed a 10-try romp at Parma as they picked up a maximum five-point win at the plucky Italians.

Saints full-back Paul Diggin and Scotland wing Sean Lamont scored two tries each but the Italians fought back late on.

Northampton were on top from the off as Lamont waltzed through some pathetic defence, and Carlos Spencer's opening try was a surprise only in that it took as long as the fifth minute to score it.

An intercept try from Parma centre Ezio Galon gave the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi crowd plenty to cheer about, and the early loss of fly-half Stephen Myler with a leg injury shook the Saints, but normal service was resumed when full-back Paul Diggin jogged around behind the posts to score.

Spencer somehow managed to miss the conversion from point-blank range but it did not matter as the Northampton scrum began to dominate their smaller rivals.

Winger Chris Wyles was the next man over the line after a beautiful long pass from Spencer, who ironically added the extras from the touchline after his earlier shocker.

The Parma scrum continued to buckle at every opportunity, and a penalty try in the 30th minute handed the Saints a valuable away bonus point.

Parma's Fijian centre Nadridri Sego was binned for a professional foul, and he had not even left the field of play when Saints hooker Steve Thompson crossed for his side's fifth try.

Replacement scrum-half Mark Robinson benefited from some Spencer magic to cross for a try the New Zealander converted as the first-half finished 40-7.

The Saints backrow took advantage of Parma's flagging fitness to smash their way to the line, No8 Daniel Browne going over for the try after some good support play and Spencer slotted over his fifth conversion making it 47-7 just after the break.

Having not seen much ball all afternoon, Lamont was rewarded for a strong run with his side's eighth try that took Northampton through the 50-point barrier as Spencer landed the conversion.

Saints prop Pat Barnard earned himself a yellow card as Parma were rewarded for their determination when wing Giovanni Ghidini went over for a try in the corner.

Parma grabbed their third try when replacement back Marco Neethling crossed as the Italians sniffed the bonus point.

Normal service was resumed when the ball was spun from a scrum under the Parma posts and full-back Diggin went over out wide for his second try.

Lamont touched down for the 10th and final try as Spencer's replacement Jonny Howard slotted the conversion.