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Investec Champions Cup
Northampton (19) 43
Tries: Todaro 3, Sleightholme, Wright, Chick Cons: Belleau 5 Pen: Belleau
Scarlets (14) 28
Tries: Elias, Hughes, Costelow, Davies Cons: Costelow 4
Impressive teenager Edoardo Todaro scored a first-half hat-trick to help seal Northampton Saints a home last-16 tie in the Investec Champions Cup and eliminate Scarlets.
The 19-year-old, who was capped by Italy in November, showed off his sharp finishing skills for all three tries in front of a home crowd.
Scarlets, who needed a bonus-point win to process to the last 16, had led 14-7 after scores by Ryan Elias and Archie Hughes.
But the hosts took control, with Ollie Sleightholme and Craig Wright bagging second-half tries.
Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow converted his own try and set up Jac Davies to set up a grandstand finish.
But Phil Dowson’s side, who lost in the final last season to Bordeaux, scored the final try through Callum Chick.
Bristol Bears’ 27-15 defeat by Bordeaux means Northampton finish second in Pool 4.
Dwayne Peel’s side, who are bottom of the United Rugby Championship, continue their poor season by finishing last in Pool 4 to miss out on a Challenge Cup spot.
They will rue a home loss against Pau and a narrow one-point defeat by Bristol earlier in the competition.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Northampton: Ramm; Todaro, Freeman, Dingwall (capt), Sleightholme; Belleau, Mitchell; Iyogun, Smith, Davison, Munga, Van der Mescht, Kemeny, Graham, Pollock.
Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Millar-Mills, Lockett, Chick, McParland, Pater, Hendy.
Scarlets: J Davies; Mee, James, Hawkins, Murray; Costelow, Hughes; Mathias, Elias, Thomas, Douglas, Ball, Plumtree, Macleod (capt), Anderson.
Replacements: Van der Merwe, Hepburn, O’Connor, Taylor, Davis, G Davies, Page, Lewis.
Sin-bin: Mathias (35 mins)
Match officials
Referee: Kevin Bralley (Fra)
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (Fra), Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (Fra)
