Northampton Saints strengthened their grip on top of the Gallagher Premiership after a thrilling 41-38 victory over Bath in a match that featured 12 tries, six apiece. Fin Smith clinched the win with a last-minute penalty after a high tackle on Henry Pollock was spotted by the television match official.
Match Overview
Having wowed the rugby world a fortnight ago with their Champions Cup quarter-final, scoring 11 tries between them, the two sides went one better this time with 12 tries. The scores were level as the clock ticked red, and the crowd were as breathless as the players.
The winning moment came not from a moment of brilliance, although Fin Smith tried for one with his dummy and drop-goal attempt. He missed that, but the television match official had spotted a high tackle by Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi on Henry Pollock. Smith did not miss the subsequent penalty, the first penalty taken at goal, the last kick of the match.
Coaches' Reactions
Phil Dowson, Northampton's director of rugby, bemoaned the defence of his first-choice unit against Bath's reserves. But he eventually conceded: "Fun is a much-underrated word in rugby. It's supposed to be fun. It wasn't much fun in the last 10 minutes, but we're capable of things like that. But we have to make sure we get all facets of the game right."
Key Performances
Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick to move to one shy of Ben Cohen on the list of Northampton try-scorers. His third try seemed to have won the match, a brilliant move setting him free through the outside-centre channel where he combined with Tom Litchfield to score with barely five minutes to go. But Bath struck again in the last five minutes, Kepu Tuipulotu driving low round the fringes of a ruck.
Northampton are now in the driving seat, opening up a four-point lead over Bath at the top of the table with four games to play. The Saints are the surest bet these days for putting on a display of fabulous rugby. England half-backs Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell are different class, along with other England internationals Fraser Dingwall and Freeman. Litchfield is establishing himself as their equal.
First Half Action
Smith and Dingwall combined in only the third minute for the former to go over for the first try. Bath responded quickly, with Bernard van der Linde's break coaxing Litchfield into a yellow-card offence, and Ciaran Donoghue's long pass put Louie Hennessey over out wide. Will Muir's deliberate knock-on earned him a yellow card too, and Freeman ambled over for Northampton's second, before a beautiful display of handling set Ollie Sleightholme away for their third on 20 minutes.
The lively Hennessey set up a try for Arthur Green five minutes later, but then came the try of the match. Bath seemed likely to score, but Saints turned the ball over and went the length of the field. Litchfield, Mitchell, then Sleightholme seemed sure to score, but Josh Bayliss ran him down. The ball came right, and Dingwall put Freeman over for his second and a 26-14 lead at the break.
Second Half Drama
Bath's third try followed less than a minute into the second half, Donoghue's miss-pass releasing Hennessey again, and his inside ball sending Tom Carr-Smith over. Sleightholme responded for Saints with their fifth a few minutes later. Then two further tries from Bath, both unconverted, tied things up at 31-31 for the final quarter. Tom de Glanville finished off one intense period of pressure on 50 minutes, before Archie Griffin burrowed over on the hour. Five tries apiece, then six, and the stage was set for Smith's dramatic winner.
