Edoardo Todaro Hat-Trick Powers Northampton Saints to Home Last-16

Impressive teenager Edoardo Todaro scored a first-half hat-trick to help seal Northampton Saints a home last-16 tie in the Investec Champions Cup and eliminate Scarlets. The 19-year-old, who was capped by Italy in November, showed off his sharp finishing skills for all three tries in front of a home crowd. Scarlets, who needed a bonus-point win to process to the last 16, had led 14-7 after scores by Ryan Elias and Archie Hughes. But the hosts took control, with Ollie Sleightholme and Craig Wright bagging second-half tries. Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow converted his own try and set up Jac Davies to set up a grandstand finish. But Phil Dowson's side, who lost in the final last season to Bordeaux, scored the final try through Callum Chick. Bristol Bears' 27-15 defeat by Bordeaux means Northampton finish second in Pool 4. The Welsh side, who are bottom of the United Rugby Championship, continue their poor season by finishing last in Pool 4 to miss out on a Challenge Cup spot. They will rue a home loss against Pau and a narrow one-point defeat by Bristol earlier in the competition.