Chalk and cheese would not be a big enough distinction to describe the weather in Hossegor when compared to that in Bedford the previous week. But while the Saints may experience the English wind and rain once or twice more during their Aviva Premiership Rugby, Heineken Cup and LV= Cup campaigns the 25-plus degree heat and sun of southern France are unlikely to be repeated.

It was certainly a night for running rugby, conditions that Dax took advantage of early on, their two tries giving them a 14-6 lead by the time the teams stopped for a drinks break after 20 minutes.

The first owed something to good fortune and pressure from a quick defensive line, Richard Apanui collecting his own chargedown to score between the sticks. The second was somewhat more orthodox, Saula Radidi's clean break taking him to the line. Morgan Turinui's pass to his big partner in the centres had looked a shade forward, but the former Australian international's vision was enough to bisect the Saints midfield.

Apanui added both conversions, and had the fly half had his kicking boots on for a pair of penalty attempts the Saints would have been facing an even bigger deficit. Stephen Myler's two penalties had kept the scoreboard ticking over from a Northampton perspective, and less than a minute after play had resumed he was on target again, this time a conversion from in front of the sticks.

Chris Ashton's superb dummy and blistering pace combined with Shane Geraghty's vision to allow the winger to cross the whitewash unopposed, and it was no more than the Saints deserved for their effort if not their execution. Half the team were seeing their first action of the pre-season and it was taking time for the combinations to gel.

The converted try brought Saints back to within a point, a margin extended by three thanks to Apanui's first successful penalty. And although the thousand or so spectators had to wait until first half injury time for Myler to add the next three points there was plenty of hard fought action to keep them entertained.

On a couple of occasions the competitiveness spilled over into outright hostility, and when the teams headed for their half-time chat they were not just neck and neck on the scoreboard but a man down each, too, with Lee Dickson and Jacques Deen both being sent to the sin bin.

There was no let up in the second half, but though Saints battered away in the next 10 minutes there was no reward for their dominance of possession and territory. Indeed thanks to Filomene Bolavucu's breakaway try and Anthony Lagardene's conversion they were seven points further behind by the time the hour mark passed.

All the pressure paid off just before the teams broke for another drinks interval at the end of the third quarter. It had been increasingly apparent as the half wore on that the Saints had a distinct edge up front, and it was here that the breakthrough came. Repeated penalties conceded by the Dax eight were kicked to the corner, and eventually the French resistance gave way to a superb maul finished off by Brian Mujati.

Myler's perfect record continued to make the score 24-23, but Dax continued to keep the visitors at arm's length courtesy of a Lagardere penalty. And it was the replacement fly half who made the result all but certain with a late try, made by the midfield maestro Turinui, whose collection of his own chip had split the Saints' rearguard.

There was a late fightback, with replacements Dylan Hartley and Stuart Commins to the fore, which ultimately led to a try for Greig Tonks. Myler was on target once again with the conversion, but while there was still time for one more play there wasn't enough time for the Saints to grab that clinching score.

TIMELINE
2mins SAINTS Pen Myler 0-3
5mins DAX Miss pen Apanui
6mins DAX Try Apanui Con Apanui 7-3
9mins DAX Miss pen Apanui
13mins SAINTS Pen Myler 7-6
16mins DAX Try Radidi Con Apanui 14-6
21mins SAINTS Try Ashton Con Myler 14-13
24mins DAX Pen Apanui 17-13
40+2mins SAINTS Yellow card Dickson
40+2mins DAX Yellow card Deen
40+3mins SAINTS Pen Myler 17-16
HALF-TIME DAX 17 SAINTS 16
55mins DAX Try Bolavucu Con Lagardere 24-16
65mins SAINTS Try Mujati Con Myler 24-23
73mins DAX Pen Lagardere 27-23
82mins DAX Try Lagardere Con Lagardere 34-23
86mins SAINTS Try Tonks Con Myler 34-30
FULL-TIME DAX 34 SAINTS 30