It was a typically blustery day up at Coombe Dingle with a gale blowing diagonally across the pitch.

Bristol strived to make ground in the early stages but were frustrated by Northampton's defence and their ability to clear their lines with massive touchfinders.

However, Bristol's pack began to turn the screw and lineout catch and drives resulted in scores for Chris Morgan and Richard Skuse. I didn't see Morgs' try as he was under a pile of bodies so I'm grateful to Neil Williams! Owen Evans converted the first.

The sequence of events for the second score is show below from lineout to drive to congratulations.

Northampton hit back with a penalty try when the referee lost patience with the Bristol defence after sustained pressure but Owen Evans scampered over despite nearly being tackled by Guy Hughes-Games - his own player!

A Northampton penalty made it 17-10 to Bristol at the break although Bristol had opened the Saints defence up on several occasions only for the final pass to go astray..

Bristol spent the majority of the second half in the Saints 22. Several 5 metre scrums brought no reward but Jon Clarke finally went over on the right as Bristol made the pressure count.

Northampton, to their credit, kept going and were rewarded with a try of their own in the right corner when Bristol simply ran out of defenders but were beginning to tire.

Bristol were awarded a penalty try of their own on their hour and should have had another when Jon Clarke was nearly decapitated when one on one with the Saints fullback only a few yards short of the line. Paul Hodgson scampered over from the resulting penalty.

A satisfying performance although Bristol could have had plenty more if the finishing had matched the power play of the forwards and the scintillating breaks made by the backs.

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