The manner of Bath Rugby’s defeat at Northampton Saints in Gallagher PREM Round 14 left Johann van Graan “gutted”.
Bath Rugby were beaten by a last-gasp penalty when they faced Northampton Saints at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, the sides having previously posted one win each from two meetings here at The Rec this season | Photo © Richard Briggs
Northampton needed a penalty from the last act of the game to edge a cracking match 41-38, meaning they completed the double over the Somerset side in the league this season and gained revenge for their equally nail-biting 43-41 setback at The Rec in the Investec Champions Cup.
The reverse in the Saturday 25th April encounter at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens was hard on the Blue, Black & White, whose line-up featured a raft of changes from the previous weekend’s win over Harlequins.
Bath battled back from 21-7 down and then 26-14 adrift to tie the game at 31-31, and then showed determination to level matters once again, with only three minutes left, after the Saints had scored their sixth try.
Visitors’ head of rugby van Graan said: “I’m gutted to lose like that but, equally, what a game of rugby once again between two amazing clubs.
“I’m so proud of this group to deliver that comeback once again.
“We know who we are, we’re tough to beat, we don’t know how to give up.
“We take it week by week. We pitched up physically but we came up against a very good side.
“It’s not great to lose it that way.”
Some good news for Bath was the return to action after injury of fly-half Ciaran Donogue. He played the full 80 minutes – 225 days after his last appearance for the club.
Van Graan said: “It’s amazing, after nine months out, to come and play 80 minutes.
“But it’s not about individuals. Our club is about the team and respect and the values of the game – and I think we showed that today.”
Phil Dowson, the Saints’ director of rugby, said: “It was a good game, great for the neutral, but frustrating from our point of view.
“I don’t think we played very well. Great to come away with five points – but lots for us to work on.
“None of it was really a Saints performance. We weren’t sharp to move, we weren’t connected, we weren’t working together.
“It felt like a third-gear performance from us, which is massively disappointing.”
