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Live Reporting

Andrew Petrie

  1. Penalty - Pau 24-27 Northampton

    Fin Smith

    Emmanuel Iyogun does well at a scrum, Pau give away the penalty and Fin Smith lands a long-range kick to edge Saints ahead again.

    SmithShutterstock

  2. Pau 24-24 Northampton

    Dan Robson snipes through towards the Saints 22, but a Pau forward comes in from the side and gives away a penalty.

    Saints are still a man down with Ramm's 20-minute red.

  3. Pau 24-24 Northampton

    In amongst all that, Henry Pollock is on and playing up to his pantomime villain status with the home fans, who love it when the flanker drops the ball.

  4. converted try

    Converted try - Pau 24-24 Northampton

    Alex Mitchell (con: F Smith)

    What a response!

    Alex Coles kicks in the afterburners and then feeds Alex Mitchell, who races in unopposed for a try that Fin Smith converts to level things up.

    MitchellShutterstock
  5. converted try

    Converted try - Pau 24-17 Northampton

    Gregoire Arfeuil (con: Desperes)

    Yes, the winger gets his second after latching on to a great kick from Dan Robson and rolling onto the try line.

    Axel Desperes nails the conversion as the momentum swings back to the hosts.

  6. Pau 17-17 Northampton

    Saints face a tricky 20 minutes with 14 men, and has Gregoire Arfeuil got the ball down under pressure from two defenders?

  7. Sin-bin

    James Ramm gets a 20-minute red for catching Thomas Jolmes with his arm in mid-air as the corkscrew-haired Pau lock jumps for a high ball, Jolmes then landing on his head.

    RammShutterstock

  8. Penalty - Pau 17-17 Northampton

    Axel Desperes

    But Pau are level quickly after Craig Wright is penalised, Axel Desperes confidently landing the penalty from out to the left.

  9. try

    Try - Pau 14-17 Northampton

    James Ramm

    What a finish by the Saints winger!

    Saints move the ball to the right, and a looping pass over two defenders finds Ramm, who has just enough space to dive around the last man and just inside the flag.

    RammShutterstock

  10. Pau 14-12 Northampton

    There's some kick-tennis in the opening minutes, but eventually George Hendy gets his hand on it for a run down the left flank before feeding hooker Craig Wright

  11. Kick-off

    Pau 14-12 Northampton

    We're under way after enduring a version of Sweet Caroline over the PA. Other Neil Diamond songs are available...

  12. Perpignan lead Dragons at half-time

    Ceri Coleman-Phillips
    BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter

    Perpignan are on track to end an 11-game losing streak as they lead fellow league strugglers Dragons 17-0 at half-time in the French sunshine.

    They raced into the lead with a James Hall try, before Duncan Paia'aua was shown a 20 minute red card for a dangerous tackle.

    Despite numerical advantage, it was the hosts who took their chances and Mahamadou Diaby added a second try just before the half hour mark.

    Dragons have it all to do in the second half if they are to register their first win of 2025.

  13. Half-time

    Pau 14-12 Northampton

    The whistle goes and the players will get a well-earned breather, especially for that last 10 minutes or so.

  14. Pau 14-12 Northampton

    Another breathless passage of play as a Saints move in the 22 is ended by an interception from Aymeric Luc.

    He races down the right and kicks ahead, but Rory Hutchinson outpaces him to roll onto the ball in the in-goal area.

    Aymeric Luc on the runShutterstock

  15. Pau 14-12 Northampton

    What a few minutes of play - it's had a bit of everything!

  16. try

    Try - Pau 14-12 Northampton

    Fraser Dingwall

    Back atcha!

    Fine offloading work on the right, then Saints spin it left and Fraser Dingwall runs it in near the left corner flag. Fin Smith cannot land the conversion, though.

  17. converted try

    Converted try - Pau 14-7 Northampton

    Gregoire Arfeuil (con: Desperes)

    Has Gregoire Arfeuil got the ball down in the in goal area? Yes - but was he offside?

    After a long check, the try is given!

    Dan Robson kicked over to the left, and the winger grabbed the ball and just manged to ground it before falling over the back of the in-goal area. Brilliant work, and a great conversion extends Pau's lead.

  18. converted try

    Converted try - Pau 7-7 Northampton

    James Ramm (con: F Smith)

    That's more like it!

    Alex Mitchell moves to the right, and sends a long pass out to James Ramm. The winger still has a bit to do, but cleverly spins off a tackle and gets the down on the line.

    Fin Smith nails a tough conversion from the right.

  19. Pau 7-0 Northampton

    The scrums have been a mess and the referee has had enough, giving both packs a good old telling off.

    Furrowed brows all round.

  20. Pau 7-0 Northampton

    Saints' European pedigree has not yet delivered, Pau are not fazed by facing last year's runners-up at all.

    Dan Robson is everywhere, feeding Loic Credoz on the right before a steal by Josh Kemeny deep in the 22 relieves the pressure.

    RobsonShutterstock