5 months ago
The Prem
Bath (14) 21
Tries: Du Toit 2, Dunn Cons: Russell 3
Northampton (14) 41
Tries: Freeman 3, McParland, Pollock 2 Cons: Belleau 4 Pens: Belleau
Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick of tries arsenic Northampton leapfrogged Bath to spell apical of nan Prem pinch a stellar 41-21 triumph successful an enthralling conflict astatine nan Recreation Ground.
Freeman's England team-mate Henry Pollock scored 2 much of Saints' tries, pinch Archie MacParland getting another, arsenic nan visitors ended a tally of 11 consecutive wins astatine location for nan reigning Prem champions.
Saints, who saw 2 much imaginable tries chalked disconnected by nan tv lucifer charismatic arsenic they dominated successful almost each area connected nan field, scored 27 unopposed points during nan second-half.
Bath, whose tries came via props Thomas du Toit (two) and Tom Dunn, driblet to 2nd successful nan array pinch their 2nd nonaccomplishment this season.
Both sides made 10 changes to their starting line-ups but Bath were astatine afloat spot while Saints had players specified arsenic Fin Smith, George Furbank and Alex Mitchell among those missing.
Bath person not mislaid astatine nan Rec successful nan Prem since 5 October 2024 but were connected nan backmost ft instantly arsenic Freeman trim a good diagonal statement to unfastened nan scoring successful nan 3rd minute.
Edoardo Todaro thought he had Northampton's 2nd soon after, only for it to beryllium pulled backmost earlier he touched nan shot down for an earlier knock-on.
Du Toit rolled complete nan statement for Bath's first people and erstwhile Northampton saw Ed Prowse sent to nan misdeed bin for caput interaction successful a tackle, Dunn made it 14-7 to nan hosts arsenic Bath's maul powered him forward.
McParland drew Saints level, slipping done a spread successful nan statement to tally over, earlier Todaro was denied again effort by an fantabulous covering Sam Underhill tackle, arsenic he cantered clear erstwhile Pollock intercepted.
Callum Chick past had a effort chalked disconnected arsenic Bath prop Beno Obano was judged to person been held successful an earlier ruck during a TMO check, allowing nan spread to unfastened which led to nan first Saints statement break, while a agelong shot retired nan backmost from Pollock went wide precocious successful nan first-half arsenic different Saints opportunity went begging.
Du Toit edged Bath 21-14 successful front, stretching complete nether nan posts connected 45 minutes but it was to beryllium nan past points nan hosts would people each night.
Rory Hutchinson thought he had scored only for Saints only for a 2nd TMO cheque to show he dropped nan shot complete nan line, earlier Freeman yet added their third, drifting betwixt Ollie Lawrence and Joe Cokanasiga.
Henry Arundell sprinted towards Northampton's statement successful a uncommon infinitesimal wherever Bath's backs had nan shot successful hand, but an fantabulous tackle from Chick dislodged nan shot and George Hendy pounced, sprinting nan other measurement earlier passing to Pollock to dive complete for Northampton's prize constituent try.
Bath replacement Dan Frost was sent to nan bin for deliberate knock-on and Northampton took further advantage pinch Pollock adding his 2nd arsenic their maul charged over.
Freeman past completed his hat-trick successful nan closing moments racing past Bath's tired defence.
Bath caput of rugby Johann van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol:
"Well done to Northampton, they were nan amended squad connected nan day.
"Not bully capable from america and nan biggest spot is you can't take sides penalties and that costs america section position. A squad for illustration Northampton put you nether monolithic unit and they were very bully successful that 2nd half.
"At half-time [it was] a beautiful moreover game, we went up and past they applied unit connected america successful that past 30."
Northampton Saints caput coach Sam Vesty told BBC Radio Northampton:
"The mindset for 80 minutes was to conscionable support attacking and to conscionable spell astatine it, which was excellent. It didn't each spell our way, but we ne'er wavered from that attacking mindset and it brought nan champion retired of us.
"We haven't won present since 2022 truthful it's a bully spot to travel and do it. I'm conscionable truthful proud of nan boys to backmost themselves and person nan assurance and mindset to spell astatine it. I loved it.
"It's [the result] sewage to beryllium up location because it's a reliable spot to travel and triumph and for nan boys to get complete nan statement and to do it successful specified style arsenic well.
"There's a fewer disallowed tries location arsenic good truthful nan scoreline could person been moreover more."
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Arundell; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, du Toit; Roux, Molony, Bayliss, Underhill, Reid.
Replacements: Frost, Van Wyk, Griffin, Hill, Pepper, Carr-Smith, Carreras, Harris.
Sin bin: Frost (65)
Northampton: Hendy; Todaro, Freeman, Hutchinson, Ramm; Belleau, McParland; Iyogun, Smith, Davison; Prowse, Munga, Chick (c), Graham, Pollock.
Replacements: Walker, Scola, Millar Mills, Benson, Brown, James, Lumley, Sleightholme.
Sin bin: Prowse (12)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
