Semi-final weekend in Europe got off to a fine start here last night. Northampton just saw off a Saracens side which may not have shown quite the flair of their hosts but who lacked for nothing in the way of spirit at the end of a difficult season.

Extra time had looked on the cards when Rodd Penney scampered over for a fine Saracens try in the 73rd minute, which was converted by Glen Jackson to level the scores at 13-13. But Stephen Myler struck a beauty of a drop-goal three minutes later from about 40 metres to see the Saints home. He was given an age to strike it, so exhausted was the Saracens defence, but there can be no arguing with the end result.

We are too used to teams in this tournament, rugby's Uefa Cup, being less than bothered about whether they win or not, but at this advanced stage of proceedings there is a refreshing intensity to things that sits comfortably alongside the action in rugby's other European tournament. For both teams here, this was the only passage left open to the other competition. You would think that might make Northampton the keener, since so many of the Saracens are not going to be Saracens next season, but the visitors were quite happy to engage in a bit of biff from the off. Steve Borthwick is quite the pugilist these days and he was at the heart of the game's first outbreak of hostilities. Later the two hookers were sent to the cooler after they carried on rolling around together long after a scrum had broken up.

But Northampton had the upper hand in most of the legitimate departments. Their front row bested Saracens' and they were a good deal more ambitious with their handling and running. Their back three, in particular, looked more fluent and penetrative whenever they had the ball, which was more often than their opposite numbers.

The only try of the first half featured both wingers and a prop. Soane Tonga'uiha was particularly massive, and he poured through off a botched Saracens lineout. Sarries stopped him just short, and then a good few of his mates who tried similarly to barge their way over. So the Saints spun it wide, Paul Diggin came in from the blind, and Jon Clarke put Bruce Reihana over.

The half-time score of 13-3 rather flattered ­Saracens more than the home team as Diggin came within a whisker of getting Northampton's second try on the stroke of half-time.

Sarries' stubbornness continued after the break, actually pulling three points back after a hack downfield when one of the Saints' ominously unfolding attacks broke down. It seemed to lend them confidence as the game entered the final quarter. Northampton, swaggering for so much of the game, were suddenly all hands to the pump. They could not stop Penney's late try, but they had left themselves just enough in the tank to keep alive their hopes of Heineken Cup rugby here next season.

Northampton Foden; Diggin, Clarke (Ansbro, 74), Downey, Reihana (capt); Myler, Dickson (Dickens, 68); Tonga'uiha (Smith, 70), Hartley, Murray, Lobbe (Lawes, 57), Kruger, Best, Gray, Easter.

Try Reihana Con Myler Pens Myler 2 Drop-goal Myler

Saracens Wyles; Cato, Leonelli (Powell, 69), Barritt (Farrell, 56), Penney; Jackson, De Kock; Aguero (Mercey, h-t), Ongaro (Cairns, 69), Johnston, Borthwick (capt), Ryder (Vyvyan, 57), Jack, Saull, Skirving (Barrell, 36).

Try Penney Con Jackson Pens Jackson 2

Referee R Poite (France) Att 11,073