Saints skipper Hartley eager for Amlin Challenge Cup success

HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS - Dylan Hartley is setting his sights on the Amlin Challenge Cup (Picture: Linda Dawson)

Northampton were eliminated from the Heineken Cup after finishing second to Leinster in Pool 1 and missing out on a best runners-up spot.

They will now travel to Sale Sharks in the last eight of the Amlin-sponsored tournament on the first weekend of April as they bid to keep hopes of a final appearance alive.

Saints would host either Stade Francais or Harlequins in the semi-final should they see off the Sharks, with a showpiece at Cardiff Arms Park beckoning on May 23.

And Hartley, who helped Saints to a 13-3 win against Castres last Friday, is adamant he and his team-mates will be giving it everything they’ve got to bring home the silverware.

“I said before we went out on Friday not to worry about the maths and just to worry about winning,” said the England hooker.

“We couldn’t afford to worry about things we couldn’t control, but there’s another tournament to be played in now, another trophy to win and we’ll give it a good crack.”