Northampton Saints held off a second-half Bristol come back to secure a European Challenge Cup quarter-final spot.

Two tries in the last quarter from replacement wing Lee Robinson and Luke Arscott moved Bristol to within four points of Saints after the visitors had dominated the first hour.
But Mark Hopley stole Bristol's lineout on his 22 for Saints to countdown the last 10 seconds and make it a maximum 20 points from four games.

Saints made six changes from last week's 66-3 drubbing of Bristol, while the home side had just six players left in their starting line-up from that mauling.

Jim Mallinder's men went into the game knowing that a victory would seal their quarter-final place in the European Challenge Cup after Montpellier's defeat in Toulon.

And they started perfectly with three first-half tries from Ben Foden, Jon Clarke and Chris Mayor, with only Ed Barnes' boot keeping the home side in it.

Myler gave Saints a fourth-minute lead by knocking over a 25m penalty straight in front of the posts.

But Bristol's first foray into Saints' 22 brought a penalty and Barnes levelled the scores.

Saints attacked around the fringes and a burst from Sean Lamont on the angle got the visitors deep in Bristol's 22. The forwards inched Saints forward and with the help of the Italian referee Ben Foden squirmed through from five metres. Myler kicked the easy conversion to make it 10-3 to Saints.

Bristol came storming back, attempting a 5m lineout move, but Saints held out to only concede a penalty, which Barnes landed to make it 10-6 to the visitors.

Saints scored their second try with a superb kick to Paul Diggin on the wing from Myler on halfway. The little winger cut inside and passed to Clarke on the scissors, who handed off Luke Arscott to squeeze in at the corner despite Shaun Perry's best efforts.

Myler missed the touchline conversion, but after 22 minutes Saints were 15-6 ahead.

A Bristol scrum 30m from Saints' line saw Soane Tonga'uiha pop up and Barnes landed the penalty to reduce the arrears to six points 10 minutes before half-time.

Saints were seemingly going nowhere when Ben Foden was caught just outside Bristol's 22, but the scrum-half is strong and he wriggled free to send Chris Mayor over from 20m for Saints' third try. Myler missed the conversion to leave Saints leading 20-9.

Saints started the second half with Myler hitting a post with a 30m penalty. But Tom Arscott made a complete hash and dropped the ball on halfway. Bristol stopped Mayor, but Saints regrouped and a series of off-loads saw Barry Stewart pop the ball to Foden to go over for his second and the all-important bonus point. Myler missed his fourth kick in a row from the touchline, but Saints were now 25-9 ahead.

Bristol, though, were not dead and buried. They came surging back and after the forwards were just held out, Lee Robinson picked up a loose ball and steamed over from 15m. Barnes converted to leave Saints 25-16 ahead with 18 minutes left.

And when Saints lost a lineout, Neil Brew slipped through Clarke to send full-back Luke Arscott into the corner. Barnes missed the touchline conversion to leave Saints just 25-21 ahead with 12 minutes left.

Saints woke up and won a penalty after a good run from Diggin, but a limping Carlos Spencer, who came on for Myler on the hour, missed from 25m.

Bristol had one last chance, but Hopley caught the wayward lineout throw to seal the win.

Bristol: L Arscott, T Arscott, Brew, Eves, Lemi, Barnes, Perry, Irish, Blaney, Crompton, Attwood, Sidoli, Salter, El Abd, Ward-Smith.

Replacements: Linklater, Clarke, Budgett, To'oala, Beveridge, Jarvis, Robinson

Saints: Ashton, Diggin, Clarke, Mayor, Lamont, Myler, Foden, Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Stewart, Day, Rae, Easter, S Gray, Hopley

Replacements: Shields, Smith, Lord, Lawes, Dickson, Spencer, Starling