Northampton Saints slay Newport Gwent Dragons to go top

Northampton Saints ended a four-match losing streak at the Newport Gwent Dragons to go top of the LV= Cup pool four.

Ryan Lamb did the damage for Saints, scoring 20 points alongside second-half tries from Phil Dowson and Jaime Elliot to earn a morale-boosting victory.

South African international Tonderai Chavhanga will feel hard done by to be on the losing side, scoring a superb hat-trick that proved to be all in vain.

A bruising encounter was edged by a physical Northampton pack and fine individual display from Dowson, who was able to control the ball at crucial moments.

The Dragons threatened a grandstand finish with Chavhanga's final try ten minutes from time but they were unable to put Northampton under further pressure.