NORTHAMPTON — Northampton became the only English side to win in the opening round of the Champions Cup as they beat Cardiff with four converted tries at Franklin's Gardens in a nervy Pool Four encounter.
Saints, quarter-finalists last season and the reigning English champions, led 14-0 at half-time thanks to tries from full-back James Pater and centre Toby Thame, both converted by Anthony Belleau in tricky conditions. Tenacious Cardiff hit back through Harri Millard and Mason Grady to make it 14-12 on the hour, before George Hendy and Fraser Dingwall responded to secure victory for the hosts, albeit without a try bonus point. Belleau added three conversions and Pater one for Northampton's 28 points.
The result came at the end of a chastening opening weekend for Prem clubs, with Gloucester drawing against champions Bordeaux-Bègles but six English sides losing. Cardiff were returning to the top tier of Europe after two seasons in the Challenge Cup and had to contend with a five-day turnaround to a United Rugby Championship fixture against Sharks at Cardiff Arms Park, which led to several influential players being held back. They did give first appearances of the season to Wales and Lions internationals Taulupe Faletau and Josh Adams after injury, while Northampton also made changes with a short trip to Welford Road to face Leicester on Saturday on the horizon.
Both Northampton number eight Callum Chick and Cardiff lock Tom Manz knocked on going for the line as slippery conditions kept it 14-0 at the break. Cardiff struck early in the second half when Millard hit a fine line in the 22 and then defended stoutly to force a raft of handling errors from the hosts. After Belleau was sin-binned for a breakdown offence, Jarrod Evans floated the ball to the right for Grady to cross and make it a two-point game. Hendy responded swiftly, juggling the ball to score a try converted by Pater, and the wing then chased down Adams to save a certain try before Dingwall dashed over in the 78th minute. The hosts could not find the fifth try needed for a five-point haul.
Saints travel to Stade Français in December and return to France in January to face Montpellier before a home finish to the group stages against Bulls. Cardiff host Bath in December and then face a pair of French teams in January, travelling to Stade Français and entertaining Montpellier.