European Cup Round-up:Northampton boosted their hopes of earning a ticket to the quarter-finals of the European Cup with a solid bonus-point triumph over the struggling Borders 29-19 in Pool Six yesterday in a match switched from storm-lashed Netherdale to Murrayfield at short notice.

Northampton now face Biarritz at Franklins Gardens next weekend in the showdown to decide who will progress as group winners and nothing less than a bonus point win will do for the home team.

Reivers grabbed the lead in the seventh minute thanks to a try by hooker Ross Ford, but the visitors hit back almost immediately as Carlos Spencer created the time and space for Paul Tupai to reach the line. Spencer converted, then banged over a penalty.

However, Borders snatched back the edge when winger Simon Danielli galloped almost 80 metres for an interception touchdown.

Spencer's dazzling sidestep led to their second try by fullback Paul Diggin. Any prospect of a Borders fightback was wiped out by England's Ben Cohen, who bagged two trademark touchdowns in seven minutes after the restart - the first converted by Spencer.

Wasps will secure last-eight status for the first time since being crowned champions in 2004 if they beat Pool One rivals Castres at Stade Pierre-Antoine next Saturday.

A losing bonus point could even be enough to progress after Wasps put themselves in the driving seat through a 22-14 victory over Perpignan at Adams Park on Saturday. Outhalf Alex King kicked 17 points, including the conversion of a Dominic Waldouck try.

Also on Saturday, London Irish's Pool Five exit was confirmed through a 26-24 home defeat against Toulouse.

Exiles fullback Delon Armitage claimed a hat-trick of tries, yet Toulouse triumphed through scores by Xavier Garbajosa (two), Benoit Baby and JeanBaptiste Elissalde.