For the second time in three weekends, Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints served up a classic that was decided at the death.
Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints produced a second classic in the space of three weekends when they followed their Investec Champions Cup thriller here at The Rec on Friday 10th April by serving up a tremendous Gallagher PREM clash at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 25th April | Photo © Richard Briggs
As in the sides’ Investec Champions Cup quarter-final at The Rec on Friday 10th April, the Midlanders built up a sizeable lead when the Blue, Black & White visited in Gallagher PREM Round 14 on Saturday 25th April. And as in the cup clash, Johann van Graan’s men roared back.
But whereas Bath won the European tie 43-41 thanks to a late conversion, this time a penalty with the clock in the red handed Northampton a 41-38 triumph that extended their lead over the second-placed Somerset team at the top of the table to four points.
Nevertheless, the Blue, Black & White earned a moral victory in the latest clash.
Bath came so close to thwarting Phil Dowson’s team. And they shaded possession (51%) and territory (52%) and forced the hosts to make 163 tackles.
However, although the Saints conceded four penalties, Bath gave away 12.
Northampton took a third-minute lead, Fin Smith crossing just to the left of the posts after an offload from Fraser Dingwall 20 metres out. Smith converted.
But the guests look advantage of the Saints’ Tom Litchfield being yellow-carded to notch their first try. In the ninth minute, Ciaran Donoghue delivered a lofted pass for Louie Hennessey to touch down from seven metres in the right corner. Donoghue – back in the side after a long recovery from injury –added the extras.
However, a 14th-minute sin-binning for a deliberate knock on by Will Muir proved costly for Bath as the hosts scored two tries during his absence.
First, Tommy Freeman went over from short range on the right following a pass from Alex Mitchell. And then Ollie Sleightholme crossed on the left after surging forward from 30 metres out. Smith converted both to leave Northampton 21-7 ahead with just a quarter of the game played.
But Bath’s Arthur Green scored on the right from five metres in the 26th minute following a pass from Will Butt. Donoghue majored to close the gap to seven points.
The Saints, though, ensured a 26-14 advantage from half-an-hour’s play after they turned defence into attack.
Bath were closing in on the Northampton try line but lost possession five metres out. The hosts powered forward and Freeman received the ball 10 metres from the Blue, Black & White’s try line, ultimately diving over on the right to notch his second try. Smith was unsuccessful from the tee.
The Blue, Black & White made a determined start to the second half and Tom Carr-Smith scored from five metres in the 41st minute after Hennessey swung over the ball from the right. Donoghue’s conversion attempt struck a post and found its way over the bar to leave the guests only five points behind.
But Northampton scored again in the 47th minute, Sleightholme crashing over from six metres on the left after escaping tackles by Carr-Smith and Dan Frost. Smith’s conversion attempt went wide but the Saints were 31-21 up.
That advantage was trimmed in the 50th minute, when Tom de Glanville touched down from close range on the left after a pass from Carr-Smith. Donoghue pulled his conversion attempt wide of the right post.
Immediately, van Graan made wholesale changes to his XV, bringing on his six replacement forwards.
And one of them, Archie Griffin, went over from short range on the right to level the scores at 31-31 in the 60th minute. Donoghue was unable to edge Bath ahead by landing the conversion, his effort sailing wide of the right post.
But as he had done in the festive PREM showdown at The Rec which the Saints won 41-21, Freeman secured a hat-trick. He went over on the left in the 73rd minute after exchanging passes with Litchfield and running in from 22 metres. Smith booted the two points to put Northampton 38-31 in the ascendancy.
The Blue, Black & White were not finished and Kepu Tuipulotu scored from close range just to the right of the posts in the 76th minute, Donoghue converting to leave the scores 38-38.
It seemed that the game would end with honours even. But Smith looked to settle matters with a drop goal, only to fire wide.
Unfortunately for Bath, Smith had another chance of three points as Northampton were awarded a penalty for Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu’s high tackle on Henry Pollock in front of the posts.
This time Smith made no mistake, easily landing a 21-metre kick – and referee Luke Pearce blew his whistle for full-time straight afterwards.
The sides could well meet yet again this season – in the PREM final at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in June.
Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Will Muir, 12 Will Butt, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Louie Hennessey, 15 Tom de Glanville.
Bath replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Sam Winters, 23 Sam Underhill.
Northampton starting XV: 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Craig Wright, 3 Luke Green, 4 Tom Lockett, 5 Ed Prowse, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Sam Graham, 8 Henry Pollock, 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 Fin Smith, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 13 Tom Litchfield, 14 Tommy Freeman, 15 George Hendy.
Northampton replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Callum Chick, 22 Archie McParland, 23 Rory Hutchinson.
Bath now turn back their attention to the Champions Cup. They will face Union Bordeaux Bègles in their semi-final at the Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole on Sunday 3rd May.
Bordeaux won the trophy last year. They are currently fifth in the French Top 14 but lost 23-21 at home to Montpellier on 25th April.
