Northampton beat Castres but look set for Amlin future

Northampton Saints are almost out of the Heineken Cup despite a 18-12 win over Castres at Franklin’s Gardens tonight.
With Ulster certain to top Poll 4 after their win over the Glasgow, The Saints can still hope for a best-second finish to sneak into the quarter finals but, with a potential maximum total of 18 points, it looks like the 2011 finalists will have to settle for an Amlin Cup quarter-final instead.
Stephen Myler for Northampton and Rory Kockott for Castres exchanged penalties to see the score leveled at 6-6 at the break.
Myler and Ryan Lamb put the Saints six points clear by the hour mark with a penalty each but Kockott reduced the score straight after to set up a tense finish.
Lamb sealed the win with two further penalties but Kockott salvaged what could prove to be a crucial losing bonus-point on the last play of the game with his fourth penalty.
Meanwhile in Belfast, Ulster became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals with a 23-6 win over Glasgow.
Nick Wiliams’ try and Ruan Pienaar’s boot helped the Ulstermen to a 10-0 lead at the break.
Duncan Weir put the Scots on the board with two penalties in quick succession but full-back Jared Payne and centre Darren Cave sealed the win in the late stages of the game with two tries.
Read both reports and analysis in Sunday’s copy of The Rugby Paper.
Re-live all the action from Franklin’s Gardens here.