Ben Foden scored two tries to help Northampton to a 32-15 bonus-point win over Wasps at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.
Northampton made it six wins in their last eight games in the Aviva Premiership to keep pressure on the top four in the standings.
Wasps meanwhile have now only won one of their last eleven, and stay firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.
It was the visitors who started the better here, creating a few chances in the early stages, but failed to take full advantage of their opportunities.
They did take the lead after ten minutes though, when fly-half Nick Robinson kicked a penalty.
Both sides had penalty chances soon after, but neither could hit the target.
Northampton had been rather slow out of the blocks, but approaching the end of the first quarter, they went over for the first try of the game as Ben Foden grounded after the hosts had men over.
Ryan Lamb added the conversion and the game was shaping up nicely.
Wasps didn't take long to hit back and Robinson added another penalty midway through the half.
It was Northampton who were looking the most threatening at this stage though, and on the half hour mark they had their second try. Centre James Downey pierced through the Wasps defence to dive over the try-line.
Lamb failed to add the extras, but the home side looked to be firmly on top.
The Saints extended their lead five minutes before the break when Lamb kicked a penalty, and when Foden dived over for his second, and Northampton's third try of the game, the signs were looking ominous for Wasps. Lamb converted to leave it 22-9 at half-time.
Wasps started the second half promisingly when Robinson scored his fourth penalty of the game early on.
Both sides then lost a man each to the bin with a quarter of the contest remaining, but that didn't stop Northampton increasing their lead further from a Lamb penalty.
Robinson reduced Wasps' arrears with a penalty with fifteen to play, but they just couldn't get back into the game, Northampton themselves pushing for a fourth try late on.
That try came late on as Martin Roberts secured the bonus point for the Saints.
The scorers:
For Northampton:
Tries: Foden 2, Downey, Roberts
Cons: Lamb 2, Myler
Pens: Lamb 2
For Wasps:
Pens: Robinson 5
Yellow cards: Long (Saints - 50th min); Broster (Wasps - 50th min); Robinson (Wasps - 76th min)
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 George Pisi, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson (capt), 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Christian Day, 4 James Craig, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Andy Long, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Tom May.
Wasps: 15 Hugo Southwell (capt), 14 Jack Wallace, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Dom Waldouck, 11 Richard Haughton, 10 Nick Robinson, 9 Nic Berry, 8 Sam Jones, 7 Jonathan Poff, 6 Joe Launchbury, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 James Cannon, 3 Ben Broster, 2 Tom Lindsay, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Vladislav Korshunov, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 Simon McIntyre, 19 Ed O'Donoghue, 20 John Hart, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Paul Emerick.
Venue: Franklin's Gardens
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Comments
Jediboy says...
But it's a tough run in. COYS.
Posted 10:45 26th March 2012
NHsaints says...
The season's looking like a real mess for Wasps at the minute, on the upside COYS only a few matches left to push for a secure top 4 finish
Posted 12:20 25th March 2012