Northampton: Butter-fingered hosts Northampton held off ill-disciplined visitors Castres to win 49-41 on Friday in a last-16 match of the European Champions Cup.
The French visitors collected two yellow cards in three minutes in the first half and another with 10 minutes left but they were also undone by their poor tackling and covering in defence and by three missed conversions from six tries.
When Northampton did not drop the ball, or pass to their opponents, they threatened a try with every attack. They scored seven times, one a penalty try, and their French fly half Anthony Belleau goaled the other six.
Christian Ambadiang dominated the early stages. After seven minutes the Castres winger streaked on to a kick from his scrum half Jeremy Fernandez to touch down in the corner.
Four minutes later, Ambadiang leapt to intercept a pass setting off a counter-attack that ended with Theo Chabouni touching down.
Ambadiang was again the hero three minutes later, dragging James Ramm’s toe over the touchline just before the diving winger could touch the ball against the goal line.
A minute later, as Archie McParland headed for a score, Ambadiang yanked by his collar to earn a yellow card and concede a penalty try.
A man short, Castres attacked. They were poised for a strike from a ruck near the line, when lock Guillaume Ducat hurled himself into Saints flanker Henry Pollock, who had already upset the visitors with his antics.
Ducat received a yellow card.
