Northampton have qualified for the Champions Cup play-off final after they beat Connacht 21-15 at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.
Victory means they will face Stade Français next Friday at this venue in a straight shoot-out for a place in Europe's elite club competition.
They scored two tries on the day, through Harry Mallinder and Nic Groom, while Niyi Adeolokun and Dave Heffernan hit back for Connacht.
Saints led 13-10 at the break thanks to a try, conversion and two penalties from fly-half Mallinder, with his try coming inside 60 seconds.
Connacht did not take long to level at 7-7 as three minutes later wing Adeolokun dived over, despite a decent last gasp tackle from Groom.
Mallinder would then add two penalties, in the 15th and 23rd minute, to move his side 13-7 ahead but Ronaldson hit back before the break.
It took 15 minutes of the second-half before the next score arrived and it was a key one for the Saints as Groom crossed for an 18-10 lead.
But the Irish province struck back with a lineout drive just after the hour mark, which saw hooker Heffernan at the tail, to make it 18-15.
With three points separating them it was a tense finish at Franklin's Gardens but home fans' nerves were settled on 71 minutes when Mallinder slotted his third penalty of the contest after replacement scrum-half Lee Dickson pounced at a ruck in what was the last score of the game.
The scorers:
For Northampton:
Tries: Mallinder, Groom
Con: Mallinder
Pens: Mallinder 3
Yellow Card: Gibson
For Connacht:
Tries: Adeolokun, Heffernan
Con: Ronaldson
Pen: Ronaldson
Northampton: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Ben Foden, 13 Nafi Tuitavake, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Harry Mallinder, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Teimana Harrison, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Campese Ma’afu, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Sam Olver, 23 Rory Hutchinson
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Danie Poolman, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Cian Kelleher, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 John Muldoon (c), 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 James Cannon, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Conor Carey, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Naulia Dawai, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 John Cooney, 23 Matt Healy
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Ludovic Cayre (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
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