Toulouse wreak revenge on Saints

French back in control of Pool Three

Toulouse avenged last week's Heineken Cup lost to Northampton Saints by recording a 25-12 victory in the return leg at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday, regaining control of Pool Three in the process.

Prop Jean-Baptiste Poux scored the only try of the game as Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked five penalties to rubberstamp an important home win.

Shane Drahm booted all of the Saints points but it was not enough to even secure a bonus point.

The French giants proved they have no intention of finishing behind Northampton - who had Andrew Blowers carried off on a stretcher - as they moved two points clear in the pool.

Both teams must now face Glasgow and Llanelli Scarlets in the remaining two weeks of the pool stage but Saints must hope that last season's Heineken Cup finalists slip up somewhere along the line.

Northampton got off to a flying start with their pack driving straight into their hosts and setting up an early shot at goal for Drahm who duly opened a 3-0 lead.

France star Frédéric Michalak gained parity with a penalty after Northampton full-back Jon Clarke, in for the injured Bruce Reihana, was caught deep inside his own half.

France star Michalak then hobbled off with an ankle injury after only 12 minutes to give Northampton hope, but when Clarke failed to deal with another up and under, Elissalde again proved just as adept in front of goal.

Drahm tried his best to keep the Saints in touch despite enjoying only a fraction of possession and narrowed the gap to 9-6 only for Toulouse to hit back with the game's only try.

Prolonged pressure saw the Saints with their backs pressed firmly against the wall before Poux was shoved over by the rest of the Toulouse pack.

Again Drahm kept the Saints in the game with his third penalty to close the gap to 16-9 before half-time to the immense frustration of Toulouse who had dominated the first 40 minutes.

But Northampton's discipline left them at the start of the second as Kiwi Matt Lord was sent to the sin bin after skipper Steve Thompson had been warned for a dust-up with Isitolo Maka on the ground. Elissalde kicked the subsequent penalty.

Frustration then turned to concern among the travelling Northampton fans when Andrew Blowers was stretchered off the field with his neck in a brace.

Toulouse wing Cedric Heymans twice went close chasing kicks ahead. The first near-miss saw the bounce evade the chasing crowd while the second drifted into touch just short of the try-line without a defender in sight.

Ben Cohen was lively at centre for the Saints who managed to stay within sight. Drahm looked to have at least grabbed a bonus point when he kicked his fourth penalty nine minutes from time but it was Elissalde who proved the difference.

The scrum-half converted two late shots at goal either side of Paul Grayson, who took the field as a second-half replacement, missed with a long-range drop goal.

The scorers:

For Toulouse:
Tries: Poux
Con: Elissalde
Pens: Michalak, Elissalde 5

For Northampton Saints:
Pens: Drahm 4