In a gripping Investec Champions Cup opener, Northampton Saints secured a 28-12 victory against Cardiff at Franklin's Gardens, becoming the only English side to win in the first round of the tournament.

The match saw Northampton lead 14-0 at halftime, thanks to tries from James Pater and Toby Thame in challenging conditions. Despite a strong start, the Saints faced a resilient Cardiff side that clawed back into the game through tries from Harri Millard and Mason Grady, narrowing the score to 14-12 in the final quarter.

Key highlights of the match include:

• Northampton's Tries: Pater, Thame, George Hendy, and Fraser Dingwall.
• Cardiff's Tries: Millard and Grady, with a conversion from Jarrod Evans.
• Northampton's Fly-half Anthony Belleau contributed with three conversions and a try.

Despite the pressure, Hendy responded quickly after Belleau was sin-binned, scoring a crucial try that Pater converted. The Saints continued to dominate, with Dingwall sealing the match with another try in the 78th minute, although they fell short of a try bonus point.

This match marked Cardiff's return to top-tier European competition after two seasons in the Challenge Cup, and they faced challenges with a quick turnaround to their next fixture against Sharks.

With this victory, Northampton looks to build momentum heading into their next match against Leicester on Saturday, while Cardiff aims to regroup after a commendable effort.