Bordeaux bulldoze Northampton to win Champions Cup

Investec Champions Cup final

Northampton: (20) 20

Tries: Coles 2 Cons: Smith 2 Pens: Smith 2

Bordeaux-Begles: (20) 28

Tries: Penaud 2, Coleman, Cazeaux Con: Jalibert Pens: Jalibert, Lucu

Northampton's Champions Cup dream was crushed as French giants Bordeaux-Begles' second-half power muscled out a 28-20 victory in the final in Cardiff.

Saints, who upset four-time champions Leinster in the semi-finals, had threatened to conjure another shock with Alex Coles' tries at either end of the first half giving them a 20-20 share of the scoreline at the break.

Bordeaux's sparkling backline took a back seat for the second half however as their forwards, including six of the replacements, gradually wore down Northampton.

Second row Cyril Caseaux scored the only try of the second period, barging over from short range.

It was a route that Bordeaux took again and again, but a stubborn Northampton defence repelled them repeatedly.

Ultimately though, short of possession and territory, there was no way back into the lead for Saints and their wait for a second Champions Cup, now a quarter of a century old, goes on.

More to follow.