Edoardo Todaro's Hat-trick Powers Northampton Saints to Home Investec Champions Cup Tie

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. Despite the defeat it was an improved Scarlets performance compared with recent results, with the region having this week installed Nigel Davies as interim director of rugby to work alongside head coach Dwayne Peel.