FINAL SCORE
Bath Rugby had what would have been a deserved and crucial victory in their grasp before frittering it away in the closing stages at Franklin’s Gardens.
Not for the first time – and probably not the last – they let a lead slip in the final ten minutes of a match. It was 26-20 after Rhys Priestland’s flawless place-kicking display had kept the hosts at arm’s length.
But when Max Green box-kicked into touch and then saw his next boot charged down by Jamie Gibson, Bath were in trouble.
They did well to defend another lineout, a 5m scrum and pick and drive after pick and drive, but eventually they strayed offside. With Bath unaware, David Ribbans tapped quickly and burrowed over, James Grayson making no mistake with a simple conversion to win it.
Saints’ fly-half James Grayson opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a superb 45m penalty.
Rhys Preistland and Jonathan Joseph combined for Bath’s first try, teeing up Ruaridh Mcconnochie to cut inside Grayson and hold of Alex Mitchell to finish well.
Priestland extended Bath’s lead early in the second half with a penalty before Saints scored their first try of the match through Rory Hutchinson despite scrambling defence.
A couple of minutes later Mercer dummied and showed up sluggish James Haskell for pace before scoring unopposed.
An edge in the scrum got Saints back in the contest with a simple three points, which Priestland soon cancelled out.
And the hosts were level at 20-20 with 15 minutes to go when Mitchell – a dangerous nuisance to Bath all afternoon – dummied and cantered over.
Two more Priestland penalties gave Bath breathing space, but they choked their opportunities to seal the win at the death. Bath Rugby: Atkins (Burns 20); Mcconnochie, Joseph, Willison (Clark 67), Vuna; Priestland, Chudley (co-capt) (Green 67); Catt (Jacques van Rooyen 62), Dunn (Walker 62), Thomas (Lahiff 62), Attwood, Charteris (co-capt) (Ewels 27), Stooke, Louw, Mercer (Grant 77). Tries: Mcconnochie, Mercer. Cons: Priestland 2. Pens: Priestland 4. Northampton Saints: Furbank; Tuala, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Grayson, Mitchell; Waller (c), Marshall, Hill, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa, Haskell, Ludlam, Wood. Subs: Fish, Van Wyk, Franks, Moon, Gibson, Tupai, Burrell, K Pisi. Tries: Hutchinson, Mitchell, Ribbans. Cons: Grayson 3. Pens: Grayson 2. Attendance: 12,289. Referee: Ian Tempset. Bath’s Star Man: Rhys Priestland – Kicked all of his shots at goal, had a good passing game and made a couple of breaks.