Bath shrug off red card to end Northampton’s run
A muscular, dogged performance from Bath, underpinned by some formidable scrummaging, snuffed out the Premiership’s only remaining unbeaten record as Northampton faded into the West Country gloom.
The image that encapsulated the afternoon came with just nine minutes to go as the hosts’ starting front-rowers, Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and try-scoring tighthead prop Will Stuart, left the field, embracing on the way, to a standing ovation.
Zach Mercer had just benefited from their set-piece craft and grunt with a close-range finish. In the end, it was so comfortable for Bath, bottom of the table before kick-off, that a red card for wing Aled Brew with half an hour to go had been forgotten. Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper admitted that his team had aimed to “suffocate” Saints. “We needed to squeeze them,” he said. “Credit to the players, their effort and application was unbelievable.”
Northampton were ahead within 90 seconds. From the first scrum, James Grayson charged down the clearance of opposite number Rhys Priestland. Scotland centre Rory Hutchinson, who did not make Gregor Townsend’s final Rugby World Cup squad, dribbled into the dead-ball area and dotted down.
Grayson missed the conversion but extended Saints’ lead to 8-0 with a penalty. However, Will Chudley replied with a scampering solo try. On the halfhour, Priestland landed a penalty from 30 metres that had his team 10-8 up at the break.
Brew’s 48th-minute red card was for raising his forearm into George Furbank’s neck, referee Ian Tempest surveying a number of replays. Bath’s heavy men responded. Josh McNally stole the line-out, Jamie Roberts carved upfield and, following a breakdown penalty and a powerful maul, the impressive Stuart shunted over.
Tom Wood brought Saints back to within two points of their opponents on the hour but Ben Franks saw yellow with Saints on the back foot. The hosts opted for a scrum. Northampton emptied their bench but the fresh legs could not help. After six minutes of collapsing scrums and re-sets, replacement tighthead Paul Hill was sin-binned. Mercer eventually burrowed over and Priestland converted for a nine-point cushion.