French champions Perpignan began their Heineken Cup rescue mission with a 29-13 home win against Northampton Saints in Pool 1.

The Catalans have serious ground to make up after slumping to a shock 9-8 defeat in Italy last weekend, but at least got back to winning ways with Friday evening’s victory.

Full-back Jérôme Porical kicked 19 points to ensure the win, with Perpignan centre David Marty also grabbing a try (a minute before half-time) to add to the home side’s earlier penalty try (in the 17^th minute).

The win was not without blemish, however, as tries either side of half-time from Chris Ashton and Brian Mujati gave the visitors hope of a priceless bonus point. But Porical’s boot put paid to that, with Saints continually punished as he landed five penalties in addition to his two conversions.

Heineken Cup Pools & Fixtures

Saints coach Jim Mallinder conceded Perpignan were the better side. “We know where we stand. Perpignan are one of the best sides in Europe, particularly at home. You have got to play at your real best to win out here, and we didn’t do that. We didn’t play to the best of our ability and deserved to come second best.”

Indeed, Perpignan have now gone 16 matches unbeaten at the Stade Aimé Giral, a run stretching back seven years at their imposing home ground. But they know they will also have to win away after their shock defeat to Benetton Treviso in round one, as well as trying to pick up as many attacking bonus points as they can along the way.

Elsewhere it was a mixed night for French clubs in Europe with Montauban easing past Petrarca Padova 27-10 in the Amlin Challenge Cup, but Montpellier slipping to a narrow 19-22 home defeat by Connacht in Pool 2.

Montpellier were looking to build on last weekend’s excellent away win at Worcester, and were 16-10 up at half-time thanks to another Ollie Smith try and 11 points from the boot of fly-half Federico Todeschini.

Amlin Challenge Cup - Pool results and tables

But the Irish side rallied after the interval with Fionn Carr adding a second try to his first-half effort, and Niva Ta’auso also going over. All Montpellier could manage in return was a single Todeschini penalty, although they laid siege to the Connacht line for the final seven minutes in a desperate push for a late winner.

Montauban’s win kept up their 100% start in Pool 5, and was achieved thanks to tries from winger Jean Emmanuel Cassin, prop Silviu Florea and replacement Shannon Paku. Fly-half Johan Dalla Riva slotted all three conversions and a pair of penalties to complete the scoring.