Local boy Paul Diggin scored four tries, including three in seven blistering second-half minutes, to lead Northampton to a 37-0 rout of Edinburgh on Friday and into the European Cup quarter-finals.
Diggin had scored his first in the 31st minute and then added three more in a spectacular blitz in the last 10 minutes, with England fullback Ben Foden heavily involved in two of them.
The bonus-point win gave the former champions 21 points from a perfect five wins and they are well-placed to secure a home tie in the quarter-finals.
“I’ve actually scored five tries for the club before, against Sedgley Park in Division One,” said Diggin, who believes Northampton have the all-round strength to lift the title at the Millennium Stadium later this year. “We have been to the big arenas now, so we don’t fear anyone. We can win this tournament as the competition for places is so fierce.”
Northampton were in charge from the start at Franklin’s Gardens, scoring their first try after just five minutes when former Springbok prop forward Brian Mujati barreled over from close-range for his second career try in the tournament. Flyhalf Stephen Myler added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Northampton, who were 31-27 victors in a thriller at Murrayfield in the first meeting between the two sides in October, extended their lead thanks to a Myler penalty.
They then celebrated their second try of the evening when winger Diggin crossed in the corner for his seventh European Cup try. Again Myler added the extras for a 15-0 lead at the interval, before Edinburgh prop Kyle Traynor ended the first period in the sin-bin.
The Saints took their foot off the gas in the second half until Diggin struck three more times to ensure the crucial bonus point.
In the other Pool 1 match of the night, Cardiff Blues kept alive their slim hopes of qualifying for the Challenge Cup with a 14-9 win over Castres.
Wales winger Leigh Halfpenny scored the only try of the game for the Blues, with Dan Parks kicking the other nine points.
In Pool 2, French Top 14 champions Clermont defeated compatriots Racing-Metro 28-17.
Racing-Metro had been 10-0 ahead at one stage after Argentina international Juan Martin Hernandez kicked a penalty and converted Bernard Le Roux’s try, but a try from Gonzalo Canale, converted by Brock James, got Clermont back within reach, before Thomas Domingo and Jason White scored further tries for the home team.
Julien Jane pulled a try back for Racing, but Clermont captain Aurelien Rougerie grabbed a fourth try for his team to secure the victory.
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