Travis Perkins and Northampton Saints - the foundation of a great Rugby Union

Northampton Rugby Football Club began life in 1880 and is now one of the giants of English Rugby Union.

Many Home Nation Internationals have donned the green, black and gold shirt of the 'Saints', including Jeff Butterfield and Dickie Jeeps who both captained England in the 40's and 50's, and modern day greats including Tim Rodber, Nick Beal, Matt Dawson and Scotsmen Budge Poutney and Gregor Townsend. The current squad boasts England Internationals Ben Foden and Dylan Hartley, and Scotland Internationals Scott Gray and Euan Murray.
Saints was also home to England's 2003 World Cup heroes Paul Grayson, Matt Dawson, Steve Thompson and Ben Cohen.
Northampton Saints are the current holders of the European Challenge Cup.
Travis Perkins has been supportive of Northampton Saints for many years. In addition to being the club's main sponsor since the 2000/01 season, the Travis family have been life-long supporters and were instrumental in the stadium redevelopment.

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Northampton Saints 31 Saracens 20

LV= Cup Semi-Final

Sunday 14 March, 2010 - Franklins Gardens

Four-try Saints overwhelm Saracens in LV= Cup semi

In running four tries past Saracens, the Saints ensured they headed to next Sunday's LV= Cup final against Gloucester in great style.

Conditions at the Gardens were perfect for running rugby, as demonstrated several times during the first 10 minutes when the hosts kept the ball in hand, notably with a superb Roger Wilson break up the right wing. Saracens, on the other hand, showed their intent right from the kick off when Derick Hougaard attempted a drop goal from halfway.

The South African tried another after 13 minutes from even further out - just one of six shots at goal of one sort or another he had in the first 20 minutes - and his accuracy meant that Saracens got the first points on the board and indeed a lead at the end of the opening quarter, even though they were nevertheless already behind on the try count.

Wilson's run had set up excellent territory deep in Saracens territory. Turning on the power at scrum time brought a penalty advantage, which the Saints used to good effect, Phil Dowson powering over on the left. Geraghty missed the conversion, but his next shot, a 22nd-minute penalty, both took his team back to within a point and immediately punished Ernst Joubert's yellow card.

Saracens' skipper had seen yellow for a professional foul but without him his team mates created their best try opportunity of the match so far just before the half-hour. Ironically enough for their reputation, Saracens showed how dangerous they could be when they put their mind to it, Schalk Brits taking a Bruce Reihana bomb superbly and setting Neil De Kock away down the left wing. His chip took out the covering defenders and the scrum-half was only beaten by the bounce of the ball.

However the visitors still extended their lead with a fourth Hougaard success, but they immediately spoiled their good work by conceding a penalty right in front of the sticks for Geraghty to pull three points back.

With Joubert's comeback to the action came a return to form, Hougaard trying a third drop-goal. Like its predecessors it was off target and although it looked like Hougaard would be reprieved when Geraghty missed a 39th-minute penalty Saracens still went into the break behind.

Two moments of ill discipline were Saracens' undoing, firstly a penalty on halfway that Lee Dickson took full advantage of with a quick tap and go, and then one just outside the 22 that not just allowed Geraghty to land his third three-pointer but also ensured that Saracens would have 14 men for the opening 10 minutes of the second half thanks to Richard Skuse's yellow card.

There were two further blows for the visitors in the opening minutes of the second half, firstly with Brits - who had been limping before the break - being replaced by Ethienne Reynecke, and then Chris Wyles coming off with a leg injury.

Nevertheless where the blows count most is on the score board, and before Saracens were back to their full compliment they were 10 points further behind thanks to two fantastic tries.

First over the line was Brian Mujati, who beat a desperate tackle and the dead ball line to ground in the right corner. Then Diggin finished off a sublime move that had the Gardens faithful on their feet. Geraghty's offload was sublime, as was Chris Ashton's supporting running line. And though the Guinness Premiership's leading try scorer could have lit the afterburners he instead chose to draw the final man and put his wing partner over unopposed.

Unfortunately Geraghty's accuracy from the tee was off not just with the conversions but also a close range penalty that came back off the bar. This meant that Saracens were still in the contest with a quarter of the match to go, and with Kiwi pair Justin Marshall and Glen Jackson on the field some new hands on the tiller.

Jackson was almost immediately on the score sheet with his team's fifth penalty, but it proved to be a mere blip on the one-way train that was the second half scoring sequence.

Saints finally put the contest to bed with 10 minutes to go when they ruthlessly punished a poor Marshall box kick. The scrum-half missed touch, which allowed his fellow former All Black Reihana to run it back with interest, and although Saracens covered manfully they couldn't stop Neil Best powering over.

Geraghty's conversion took the Saints past 30 points, and although Justin Melck scored a try - and both teams ended the game a man down thanks to a spot of handbags between Juandre Kruger and Mouritz Botha - it was just a consolation for the Men in Black as they watched the Saints march into the final.