Match action
NORTHAMPTON’S Teimana Harrison saluted fellow back rower Louis Picamoles after his barnstorming display helped see off brave battlers Bristol.
France international Picamoles played like a man possessed, scoring one firsthalf try and creating another sensational score for Tom Wood which, added to further tries from Mikey Haywood and JJ Hanrahan, sent Saints soaring to fifth.
England man Harrison said: “Louis was awesome; the man’s a machine. You could see how dangerous he is off the base of the scrum setting up that try for Woody and the more we react to him, the better we’ll be.”
Harrison added: “To say Bristol gave us a hard match is an understatement but but I’m proud of the boys for the way we dug in. After Europe we set ourselves a target of three Premiership wins from three and it’s a big step in the right direction.”
Harrison and Courtney Lawes were prominent as Saints started brightly but Bristol nearly opened the scoring when Jason Woodward released Tom Varndell, only for George North to ram him into touch.
North then showed his class in attack, blasting through Bristol’s midfield before the ball found Ben Foden, who grubbered for Jamie Elliott to chase.
Elliott injured an arm in the footrace as Bristol’s Will Cliff touched down in goal, but Northampton were not to be denied the first try as their pack turned on the power at scrum-time, enabling Picamoles to pick up and drive over.
Bristol won a penalty from the restart, Woodward slotting the three-pointer, and the visitors hit the front four minutes later when Varndell came off his wing. Woodward and Jack Wallace took the ball up and No.8 Mitch Eadie battered his way over.
Excellent work on the floor from Olly Robinson forced a penalty converted by Woodward, but Saints responded in fine style and, after Wallace had carried Nic Groom’s grubber into touch, a series of closerange lineouts produced Haywood’s try.
Northampton ended a thrilling half 14-13 ahead and pressed from the restart through Groom.
Robinson saw off the initial danger but a fumble from Adrian Jarvis surrendered possession, enabling Saints to take advantage when, from the resultant scrum, Picamoles powered through five Bristol defenders before sending Wood in.
Bristol responded through Woodward’s third penalty, and the Kiwi was heavily involved again as the visitors retook the lead on 52 minutes when his chip found Varndell, who drew the cover defence before ushering Woodward under the sticks.
Disaster struck for Bristol moments later, though, when Cliff’s attempted clearance was charged down by Hanrahan for Northampton’s bonus point try, only for Woodward to strike his second long range penalty to tie the scores at 26-26.
Lawes offloaded to Harrison as Saints stormed back up field but Bristol dug in, with Woodward, Will Hurrell and Robinson working overtime before pressure eventually told as Stephen Myler slotted a penalty after Bristol failed to roll away.
A furious finish ensued as Harry Mallinder’s superbly struck drop-goal extended Northampton’s lead to six points, but Bristol repelled everything the home side chucked at them to preserve a precious losing bonus point.