Northampton started the game putting Bath under pressure and after four minutes grabbed the lead with a penalty in front of the Bath posts after Duncan Bell had been penalised at a scrum. Within a minute Bath were back on even terms when Olly Barkley maintained this seasons excellent kicking.

Bruce Reihana regained the lead for the home side after 12 minutes after Bath were caught offside just 20 metres from their line to make the score 6-3.

Gareth Delve was replaced by Chris Goodman after 15 minutes with what looked like a groin strain and within five minutes Reihana extended the home side's lead with yet another penalty at the breakdown. Referee Barnes finally lost patience with Bath after 20 minutes when Zak Feau'nati was sin binned for not rolling away from a ruck. 

Picture by Empics (courtesy of Sportnetwork)

After soaking up incessant Northampton pressure, the 14 man Bath defence couldn't hold out any further when Tom Smith was pushed over the Bath line following a line-out catch and and drive to make the score 14-3. Reihana missed the conversion.

Bath had a chance for an immediate response but Barkley missed his penalty kick at goal when, given the lack of attacking opportunities, it might have been better to kick for touch and attack the Northampton line.

With just two minutes until the break Northampton extended their lead when a blindside scrummage move saw Robbie Kydd run in to the Bath twenty-two and his skillfully delivered backhand pass gave Sean Lamont an easy opportunity to score Saints' second try. But Bath's never say die attitude saw Andrew Higgins finish off a sweeping attack to make the score (a slightly more respectable) 21-8. A successful conversion from Olly Barkley saw the half-time score stand at 21-10.

Picture by Empics (courtesy of Sportnetwork)

Bath got off to an ideal start to the second half when Olly Barkley kicked a penalty, some 47 yards and head on to the posts, to take the score to 21-13 after 42 minutes. However the Bath momentum was interrupted when Robbie Kydd scored the home side's third try, taking the score to 26-13 after 49 minutes. Ten minutes later a Bath drive took the pack over the Northampton try-line but referee Barnes couldn't see the ball being grounded and frustratingly all Bath achieved from this move was a five metre scrum. Strangely the referee then walked towards the Fourth Official (David Rose) appearing to seek advice on how to manage the game. (This may explain things).

Bath almost got back in to the game with fifteen minutes to go when Chris Malone kicked across field in to the Saints' goal area but Joe Maddock was unable to gather and score. Despite having the majority of territory and possession in the second half Bath couldn't score yet Northampton only needed a couple of counter-attacks to move the scoreboard onwards in their favour. Carlos Spencer scored a bonus point winning try under the Bath posts after Bruce Reihana picked up the ball as the Bath attackers tried to make the game work for them.

Picture by Empics (courtesy of Sportnetwork)

Michael Stephenson scored a try with seven minutes to go with Bath desperately trying to grab an important losing bonus point. With Olly Barkley off the field and Chris Malone lying injured, Shaun Berne missed the conversion to keep the score at 33-18. Another Bath drive was held up on the Northampton line and their last opportunity appeared lost as Chris Goodman put his foot in touch as he tried to ground for a try. However the visitors still kept attacking the Northampton line but to no avail and a very late Saints' counter attack resulted in Danny Grewcock getting his second yellow card in two games right on the whistle.

Bath were clearly able to keep on pressuring their opponents until the final whistle but their finishing lacked the punch shown by the home side. The result is disappointing and will see Bath slide down the League table.

Referee: Wayne Barnes

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon