Northampton 27 Ospreys 16
Northampton kick-started their Heineken Cup campaign with a priceless victory at Franklin's Gardens that put them firmly back in the Pool One mix. Star-studded Welsh region the Ospreys, though, are facing an early exit after they were unable to recover from last weekend's home defeat against Leinster.
Number eight Samu Manoa, lock Christian Day and full-back Ben Foden scored tries for the Saints, with outhalf Stephen Myler converting all three touchdowns and booting two penalties as Northampton triumphed 27-16.
Wales outhalf Dan Biggar posted all the Ospreys' points from a try, conversion and three penalties, yet they now have a mountain to climb in a group that also includes reigning French champions Castres, conquerors of Northampton eight days ago. Saints, though, can look forward to home and away appointments with three-time European champions Leinster when the tournament resumes in December, content that they will be major players in the inevitable scramble for last eight places.
England lock Courtney Lawes proved a heartbeat for the home side, constantly being their go-to player as he relished an intense battle with an Ospreys pack that featured four 2013 British and Irish Lions in Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Alun-Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric.
Proved one-sided
Having lost their opening games last weekend, neither team could realistically afford another slip-up, but the opening exchanges proved one-sided as Northampton took charge. Lawes set the the tone from the kick-off with a crunching tackle on Ospreys scrum-half Tom Habberfield, and Myler landed a penalty just seconds later.
The Ospreys struggled to escape from inside their own 22, with Northampton monopolising possession and establishing early set-piece dominance that resulted in an easy try for Manoa. Manoa picked up from a five-metre scrum and touched down without an Ospreys hand being laid on him, with Myler's conversion making it 10-0 before the visitors stirred through a long-range Biggar penalty.
NORTHAMPTON: Foden; Elliott, G Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, L Dickson; A Waller, Hartley, Ma'afu, Lawes, Day, Dowson, Wood, Manoa. Replacements: K Pisi for Elliott (75 mins), Fotuali'i for L Dickson (62 mins), E Waller for A Waller (69 mins), Haywood for Hartley (75 mins), Denman for Ma'afu (61 mins), Clark for Dowson (55 mins), van Velze for Manoa (55 mins).
OSPREYS: Fussell; Hassler, Bishop, Beck, Walker; Biggar, Haberfield; Bevington, Hibbard, A Jones, A Jones, King, R Jones, Tipuric, Bearman. Replacements: Morgan for Beck (72 mins), D Jones for Bevington (62 mins), Baldwin for Hibbard (69 mins), Ardron for A Jones (54 mins), Lewis for King (69 mins), Jarvis for R Jones (54 mins), Allen for Bearman (47 mins). Sin Bin: Biggar (79 mins).
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)