Northampton Saints win thriller in Pau with 35-27 margin

Section Paloise 27-35 Northampton, Pau

Northampton Saints began their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a dramatic 35-27 away win over Section Paloise at Stade du Hameau.

An end-to-end contest swung repeatedly before George Hendy’s late finish sealed victory, backed by a composed final kick from Fin Smith.

Saints started brightly and twice thought they had opened the scoring, only for forward passes to deny attempts created by George Furbank and Hendy. Despite early pressure, it was Pau who struck first after 19 minutes. A spell of scrum dominance allowed No.8 Facundo Isa to power over from close range for 7-0.

Northampton responded on the half hour. Alex Mitchell attacked off the back of a lineout, jinked around the corner and sent a looping pass to James Ramm on the right wing for the equaliser. Smith converted, but Pau hit back instantly when Dan Robson’s box-kick bounced perfectly for Grégoire Arfeuil to score. A further move down the left then put Fraser Dingwall over, leaving Saints trailing 14-12 at the break.

The second half continued at pace. Saints struck after just three minutes as Smith broke through midfield and Ramm finished out wide for his second.

Pau levelled with a penalty before the match swung again when Ramm received a 20-minute red card for contact in the air. With the extra man, Pau regained the lead through Arfeuil, who chased a kick and touched down to make it 24-17.

Northampton answered with the try of the night. Alex Coles burst through space in midfield and drew the final defender before releasing Mitchell, who sprinted clear to score on his 150th Club appearance. Smith converted to make it 24-24, then added a penalty from a scrum to edge Saints ahead.

Pau levelled once more from distance, setting up a tense final quarter. Saints probed repeatedly and Smith dropped into position for a drop-goal, only to spot space wide. He chose to play, finding Toby Thame, who sent Hendy diving over in the left corner for the decisive score. Smith missed the conversion but kicked a penalty goal in the closing stage to steer the Saints to an eight point victory.

Team line up:

Pau: Luc; Arfeuil, Maddocks, Decron, Laporte; Desperes, Robson; Etchebehere, Montoya, Zabala Arrieta, Jolmes, Picquette, Zegueur, Credoz, Isa.

Reserves: Rey, Seneca, Papidze, Capelli, Kpoku, Hewat, Souverbie, Valentino.

Northampton: Furbank; Ramm, Hutchinson, Dingwall, Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Fischetti, Wright, Davison, Coles, Van der Mescht, Kemeny, Pearson, Chick.

Reserves: Smith, Iyogun, Kundiona, Prowse, Pollock, Graham, James, Thame.