Northampton Saints 23 (20)
Perpignan 7 (7)

Perpignan's Heineken Cup dreams were obliterated by a dominant Northampton Saints as the Catalans crashed to a 23-7 defeat on Sunday.

The French side were blown away by the hosts during a rampant first-half display, which saw the Saints move 20-0 ahead before a Guilhem Guirado try just before the break offered hope.

But it proved illusory as Jim Mallinder's side then used muscle and know-how to effectively shut the contest down, eventually running out 23-7 winners in Milton Keynes.

Perpignan's defeat completed a disappointing weekend for French sides as defending champions Stade Toulousain had also lost (against Leinster) on Saturday.

Heineken Cup 2010/11 Results and Tables

But whereas Toulouse can still end their season on a high by claiming their 18th French title, Perpignan have nothing left to play for having already failed to reach the Top 14 play-offs.

The Catalans simply had no answer to Northampton's high-tempo opening, conceding two converted tries as Ben Foden and Jon Clarke both crossed for the 2000 Heineken champions.

Both sides had already missed a kick each at goal before the scoreboard started ticking as full-back Foden - who enjoyed an excellent game - ran in unopposed on 14 minutes following quick recycled ball after a Phil Dowson break. Fly-half Stephen Myler added the conversion, and went on to put Saints further ahead when he landed a 24th-minute penalty from the halfway line.

Northampton kept up the momentum and it was only a matter of time before they crossed again, with Clarke the scorer this time after the hosts spread it wide having failed to barrel over from close in. Myler's conversion left them 17-0 ahead after half an hour and the game was effectively over.

Two minutes later winger Julien Candelon was sin-binned for taking out Lee Dickson in the air, with Northampton going even further ahead when Myler kicked his second penalty of the half just three minutes before the break.

Guirado's push over try on 39 minutes hinted at a possible revival, but it never materialized as Northampton claimed deserved victory to set up a final date with Leinster at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Toulouse pay the penalty as Sexton kicks Leinster to victory

Perpignan's veteran England prop Perry Freshwater admitted the better side had won. "They ran us around a lot and we defended for a lot of the game. I think towards the end we were certainly out-powered," he said.

"We're disappointed. We didn't turn up and there's no complaints. They didn't surprise us, but we didn't play too smart. We kicked a lot to Ben Foden - he's a good counter attacker and we struggled to get out of our own half. We were defending for most of the game," he added.

Freshwater said a crucial early loss of lineout on Northampton's 22 had proved dispiriting. "We'd wanted to drive that lineout but we lost it. Then we just lost our shape completely, and when that happens with is it's pretty ugly," he said.

Northampton coach Mallinder was understandably buoyant afterwards. "I'm delighted. The first half was outstanding and we kept it going into the second half," he said. "This is the biggest moment of my coaching career."

That could yet be topped in Cardiff, but the Saints will find Leinster a considerably tougher opponent to crack than Perpignan - certainly on the weekend's performances anyway.