Saints 36 - 17 Wasps: Northampton run in five at the Gardens

Chris Boyd's Northampton Saints side really clicked into gear to claim a thrilling bonus-point win against Wasps, running in five tries to romp to a 36-17 triumph at Franklin's Gardens.

Andrew Kellaway scored early on for the hosts as James Grayson kept the scoreboard ticking over with two penalties, before Fraser Dingwall scored his first Saints try just before half-time.

Saints started the second-half with quickly with tries from Piers Francis and Taqele Naiyaravoro wrapping up the extra point, and Premiership debutante Ollie Sleightholme added a fifth to put the icing on the cake in front of a euphoric home crowd.

In the opening minutes both sides held strong until Kellaway broke to within five metres of the try-line on the right-hand side, and after some fine work by the forwards to build the phases and earn the advantage, Grayson sent a cross-field kick over to the left where the Australian winger collected and scored.

Wasps were unable to make any indents to the Saints defence and after Naiyaravoro made another break, Tom Willis failed to roll away and Grayson kicked the penalty to give Northampton a 8-0 lead.

Saints' defence continued to hold firm on the halfway line before Lima Sopoaga missed a penalty for the away side and soon after Thomas Young was sent to the sin bin for Wasps after cynically bringing down a rolling maul.

Grayson's boot extended Saints' advantage once again before Dingwall scored his first try in Black, Green and Gold; Naiyaravoro made a break down the left and passed inside to the centre, who made an electrifying 40-metre dash to score in the corner.

Sopoaga scored Wasps' first points of the afternoon, a penalty on the stroke of half-time, to put the visitors 16-3 behind at the break.

Naiyaravoro was in the thick of the action again as the match restarted, the Australian thinking he had scored but the try was ruled out as the referee deemed himself to have interfered with play.

However Saints did not have to wait long to score their third try when after a heap of Northampton players crossed the line, the TMO checked and the try was given to Piers Francis.

Wasps scored their first try of the match when the TMO adjudged Thomas Young to have touched down the ball after a rolling maul from a lineout.

But Naiyaravoro finally got the try he deserved and secured Saints the bonus-point in the process in the 55th minute when Kellaway spotted his fellow countryman on the left wing, and the Australian didn't need a second invitation to score – blasting through Rob Miller on his way to the line.

Wasps continued to push Northampton's defence but it held firm and Francis kicked another penalty before winger Sleightholme, moments after coming on for his Premiership debut, latched onto a brilliant first-phase move from Saints and scored in the corner with his first touch.

A period of pressure before full-time saw the visitors score their second try through Josh Bassett out wide but it wasn't enough to rain on Saints' parade as they secured their third Premiership victory this season.

A trip to Sale to face the Sharks faces Boyd's men next weekend, before they head back to the Gardens on Saturday 1 December to welcome Newcastle Falcons. Tickets are available now for that game from £28 for adults and a special price of just £1 for juniors by CLICKING HERE.