A review of Sunday's action in the LV=Cup semi-finals.

Northampton ran in four tries to sink beleaguered Saracens 31-20 and clinch a date with Gloucester in next Sunday's LV= Cup final.

Saints were only 14-12 up at half-time, courtesy of Phil Dowson's try and Shane Geraghty's three penalties, but they pulled clear after the break with Brian Mujati, Paul Diggin and Neil Best also going over.

Out-of-form Saracens battled gamely but were destroyed at scrum time and rarely came close to Saints' line.

Their points came through five penalties, four to fly-half Derick Hougaard and the other to his replacement Glen Jackson, and Justin Melck's late try.

Northampton will play their fifth domestic cup final - they have not won one yet - and will fancy their chances at Worcester's Sixways stadium, with Gloucester 20 points below them in the Guinness Premiership table.

Earlier in the day a hat-trick of tries from wing James Simpson-Daniel saw Gloucester advance to a second-straight LV=Cup final with a 29-18 victory over Cardiff Blues at Cardiff City Stadium.

The Cherry and Whites had lost 50-12 to the Blues in last year's Anglo-Welsh final and had suffered a 26-25 defeat against the Welsh side in the pool stages of this year's competition, but they were not to be denied.

The sides were locked at 10-10 at the break. Former New Zealand centre Casey Laulala going over for the Blues while full-back Freddie Burns crossed for Gloucester. Ben Blair and Nicky Robinson kicked five points apiece.

But a hat-trick from Simpson-Daniel put the visitors out of sight, meaning Ceri Sweeney's late try was little consolation for Dai Young's side.