Summary

  • Northampton Saints outclass Clermont Auvergne 46-24 to reach Champions Cup quarter-finals - match report

  • England wing Tommy Freeman scores hat-trick in man-of-the-match display at Franklin's Gardens

  • Juarno Augustus powers over for two tries, rising star Henry Pollock scores again and Fin Smith also touches down

  • Saints will face Castres or Benetton at home in last eight next weekend

Live Reporting

Tim Oscroft

  1. Northampton 34-24 Clermont

    Another Clermont score would make this even more interesting.

    But Alex Mitchell sets up another Saints attack with a lovely take from a bouncing kick ahead, he's been superb tonight.

  2. 'Closer contest than we thought'

    Northampton 34-24 Clermont

    Paul Grayson
    Former Northampton and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    What was starting to look like a Northampton procession has turned into a closer contest than we thought.

  3. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 34-24 Clermont

    Folau Fainga'a (con: Anthony Belleau)

    Like I was saying - Folau Fainga'a, a substitute, expertly rumbles over from the back of a lineout.

    Belleau lands the kick, and there is a touch of nervousness around Franklin's Gardens.

  4. Northampton 34-17 Clermont

    We are back to parity, 15 v 15, but there will be plenty more tries in this I reckon.

  5. 'Awesome sight to see'

    Northampton 34-17 Clermont

    Paul Grayson
    Former Northampton and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Alivereti Raka is such a devastating finisher out wide. An awesome sight to see in full flight.

  6. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 34-17 Clermont

    Alivereti Raka (con: Belleau)

    Back atcha!

    The winger barges John Ramm off him on the flank, then he tears in off his right foot to race over the try line for a superb score.

    Alivereti RakaReuters

  7. 'Brilliant deception from Hendy'

    Northampton 34-10 Clermont

    Paul Grayson
    Former Northampton and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Brilliant deception from George Hendy. He's so hard to stop - he's a rangy runner, you never quite know what's coming next but he loves to run the ball back.

  8. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 34-10 Clermont

    Juarno Augustus (con: Fin Smith)

    A second try for the number eight, all set up by winger George Hendy.

    Silky skills from Hendy as he collects a punt ahead, feints both ways then races downfield before feeding the back rower for a simple run-in.

    Fin Smith pots the conversion with ease, and Saints are coasting.

    Juarno AugustusPA Media

  9. Northampton 27-10 Clermont

    Brave, spirited stuff from Clermont as Pita-Gus Sowakula rampages downfield into the Saints 22.

  10. Northampton 27-10 Clermont

    Clermont are back to 14 with lock Thomas Ceyte trundling back on. Can Saints make the player advantage they still have count?

  11. Northampton 27-10 Clermont

    And we're off again, with Alex Coles knocking on in clumsy fashion from the Clermont kick-off.

  12. Northampton 27-10 Clermont

    Paul Grayson
    Former Northampton and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Every possible opportunity Northampton have kept the ball alive and they were clinical and precise to get their tries, the pick of which was Tommy Freeman's try over 100m away in the corner after a tap tackle to stop a Clermont try.

    They built their championship-winning side on their attack. They just lack a bit of physical power that the top teams have.

  13. Half-time

    Northampton 27-10 Clermont

    That's been a great last 25 minutes for the hosts, who will be two players to the good at the start of the second half as well.

    Fin SmithGetty Images

  14. HT: Northampton 27-10 Clermont

    Mantej Mann
    BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

    Clermont started brightly but Northampton have taken control of this tie and surely have one foot in the quarter-finals.

    Fin Smith has pulled the strings with composure and Clermont have had little response to the onslaught.

    The home fans leave their seats for the nearest watering hole much happier than when they first took them.

  15. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 27-10 Clermont

    Juarno Augustus (con: Fin Smith)

    And to rub it in at the break, Juarno Augustus crashes over from a lineout!

    Josh Kemeny leaps like a salon, he palms the ball back to the number eight, who lands a touch short of the line, but momentum takes him there.

    Fin Smith lands the cionversion and Northampton's lead is back to 'healthy' status at the break.

    Juarno AugustusPA Media

  16. Sin-bin

    Anthony Belleau goes to the sin bin for not retreating....then the referee realises it should be Sebastien Bezy who should be trudging off.

    Either way, the French side are down to 13.

  17. Northampton 20-10 Clermont

    A training ground move with hooker Barnabe Massa getting the ball back at the throw goes awry when he steps in the touchline, and Saints hoof it clear.

  18. Northampton 20-10 Clermont

    Clermont are doing quite well in this 14-man phase they have to endure, they push the Saints back to halfway, get a penalty and now have a line-out on the 22.

  19. No try

    Northampton 20-10 Clermont

    Indeed, it was knocked on and the gap stays at 10 points. Saints fans will hope these missed chances - a few conversions have gone astray too - won't bite them in a tender place later.

  20. Try review - Northampton 25-10 Clermont

    Alex Mitchell

    Saints tap and go, and the scrum half dives over. It is all looking too easy.

    But there may be a knock-on, so they go to the TMO.