Northampton became the first Gallagher Prem side to win the Investec Champions Cup this season after earning a hard-fought 28-12 victory over Cardiff.
After seven failed attempts by their English sides, the Prem champions were pushed hard by their Welsh visitors, who at one stage threatened a comeback at the DPD Stadium in Franklin’s Gardens.
It took a vital effort from man of the match George Hendy to regain control for Saints as they restored some pride in what has been a bruising weekend for teams from their league.
Cardiff made a late change in the first half, with South African Johan Mulder coming on for the experienced Aled Davies.
Saints opened the scoring with a superb breakaway effort after 12 minutes, with Hendy making the initial attack before passing to Alex Mitchell on the outside.
The England side’s pass back downfield found James Pater and the 19-year-old full-back did well to finish, with Anthony Belleau adding the conversion.
The hosts had some light after having a free-kick awarded in a five-yard scrum, with Mitchell quickly finding Rory Hutchinson, whose inside pass sent Toby Thame.
Saints led 14-0 at half-time but Cardiff hit back seven minutes after the restart when Harri Millard pounced on Mulder’s pass after a hit penalty, with Jarrod Evans adding the extras.
After Belleau got hands on the drive near his own line, the visitors moved within two points when Evans’ long pass gave Grady an unconverted try.
Despite being down to 14 men, Northampton extended their lead when Hendy outwitted Fraser Dingwall’s offload and almost held on to dive for a decisive score.
Cardiff weren’t going quietly and looked certain to score again when Josh Adams broke down the left, but Hendy turned the goalscorer into the save with a superb last-ditch effort.
Saints finally secured victory with a minute to go when the ball was recycled to Dingwall, who slid his way through to cap off a fine display from the bench.
Leicester have been well beaten by Pau
Ollie Chessum made a goal-scoring comeback from injury but Leicester fell short in their Champions Cup opener against Pau in the south of France.
Archie van der Flier gave the Tigers a glimmer of hope when his 54th-minute try put his side within touching distance, but the hosts eventually ran out for a 41-17 bonus-point win.
The returning Chessum powered through in his first appearance of the season. But tries from Rodrigo Marta and Jon Zabala gave Pau a half-time lead and when they extended their lead through Marta’s second early in the second half, it looked all for the visitors.
Van der Flier had other ideas when he crossed, Billy Searle’s strike brought them back to within seven points, but a sloppy penalty and Aaron Grandidier Nkanang’s subsequent try sealed the deal for the French side.
Pau sealed their bonus point in the closing stages when Searle’s attempted pass was stopped and Fabien Brau-Boirie fired home to secure an emphatic win.
Harlequins win the Challenge Cup
Marcus Smith shrugged off a first-half basket to help Harlequins to a 57-19 bonus-point win over Vannes in Pool Three of the European Challenge Cup.
Marcus Smith led Harlequins to a bonus point win.
England defender Smith scored a total of 22 points from two tries and six conversions despite enduring a spell on the field for a deliberate kick.
It was a much-needed, dominant performance from the home side, who managed to avoid their winless start to the new Gallagher Prem campaign.
Quins were 26-14 up at the interval with Cadan Murley scoring twice and Smith and Will Hobson also getting over the line as the visitors responded through Wayan De Benedittis and winger Enzo Benmegal.
Further tries from Sam Riley and Smith again brought Harlequins home and drenched on the clock.
With the pressure off, Quins stepped up their chase for a bonus point, scoring three more tries in the final 15 minutes. Will Evans grabbed his second and third tries of the game, either side of scores from Jimmy Staples.
