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Ashworth gave the home fans in the sell-out crowd something to cheer as he sprinted to grab Aidan Sezer's grubber kick before two defenders, but Mourgue, back from a head injury assessment following Cust's challenge, scampered over to give his side a 12-point half-time lead.

Henry Pollock added the gloss by latching on to Smith's clever grubber kick, and Northampton's prize is a return to their East Midlands home next weekend to face either Castres or Benetton in the next round.

England traded blow for blow with a cute Daly grubber, putting Tommy Freeman into the corner before good work from Ollie Chessum down one wing created space for Sleightholme to dive in the opposite corner.

England scored the opening try early as Smith ran back a kick, Ollie Lawrence busted a hole and Henry Slade's cute grubber put the ball on a platter for Murley.

With Ireland prevented from finding an early groove, it was hardly surprising when Murley marked his debut in the grand manner, pouncing on Henry Slade's perfectly weighted grubber kick to put England ahead after nine minutes.