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Northampton full-back George Hendy counter-attacks against Bath [Getty Images]
Gallagher Premiership
Northampton (29) 35
Tries: Kemeny, Dingwall, Ramm, Hendy Cons: Smith (3) Pens: Smith (3)
Bath (19) 34
Tries: Cokanasiga (2), Bailey, Stuart, Ojomoh Cons: Russell (3) Pens: Russell
Reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints defeated current leaders Bath 35-34 with the final kick of the game in a sensational match at Franklin’s Gardens.
In a repeat of last season’s Premiership final, Saints piled on the pressure in a breathless first half with early tries from Josh Kemeny, captain Fraser Dingwall and James Ramm.
Joe Cokanasiga and Orlando Bailey responded for Bath before George Hendy got Saints’ fourth score.
The visitors came back into the match with tries from Will Stuart, Max Ojomoh and a second from Cokanasiga before a last-minute penalty from Finn Smith sealed the win for the hosts.
Bath remain top, six points ahead of Bristol, while Northampton stay eighth, 15 points clear of next-to-bottom Exeter.
It took the home side less than two minutes to get on the scoreboard, as full-back Hendy exploited space down the touchline before the ball made its way to Kemeny, who escaped the final Bath tackler to touch down beyond the posts.
With the wind in their sails, Saints struck again almost immediately.
Smith recovered his own kick into the Bath 22, and with the defence stretched, scrum-half Alex Mitchell fed Dingwall to go over untouched.
Bath were shocked as Ramm powered through a gap between defenders and arced away from the covering Bailey to score the home side’s third try in fewer than 15 minutes.
But, the visitors regained their composure and responded quickly.
After patient work from fly-half Finn Russell and Bailey, Cokanasiga found just enough space to touch down in the corner.
As the penalty count rose for the home side, Bath scored again.
Russell played a perfect pass to fix the Saints’ defence, allowing Bailey to power his way through to the line.
But, Phil Dowson’s men proved relentless in attack and scored a deserved fourth try before the break as Hendy followed up a kick through by the inspired Smith.
James Ramm powers over for Northampton in the first-half [Getty Images]
Looking to close the gap, Bath rang the changes early in the second half, and it soon paid dividends.
Stuart crashed over from the short range following a period of sustained pressure on the Saints’ line for the away side’s third try.
Following further sustained pressure in the host’s 22, Ojomoh fought his way over following a brilliant offload from Sam Underhill before Bath got their noses in front for the first time through Cokanasiga.
Rory Hutchinson’s kick was charged down by Miles Reid, who fed the flying winger to run in from the half-way line.
Smith and Russell traded penalties as the lead changes hands three times in the final 10 minutes, that saw Bath set for a remarkable comeback win 34-32 ahead only for Smith to give Saints the final say and extend Bath’s long wait for a victory at the Gardens.
Northampton: Hendy; Freeman, Dingwall (capt), Hutchinson, Ramm; Smith, Mitchell; West, Langdon, Davison; Mayanavanua, Coles, Kemeny, Pearson, Augustus.
Replacements: Walker, Haffar, Green, Lockett, Pollock, Scott-Young, McParland, Seabrook.
Yellow Card: Mitchell
Bath: Bailey; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Muir; Russell, Spencer (capt); Obano, Dunn, Stuart; Roux, Molony, Pepper, Reid, Barbeary.
Replacements: Tuipulotu, van Wyk, du Toit, Ewels, Underhill, Schreuder, Bayliss, Coetzee.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-01-05 21:41:08
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