Lawes’ power leads way for sizzling Saints
A BRACE of tries from young lock David Ribbans steered Northampton to a hard-fought victory over in-form Bath. Jim Mallinder’s men shipped 55 points in an opening-day demolition at the hands of Saracens but have steadied the ship in the last two weeks. In the absence of Dylan Hartley, who sat out the game with a hand injury, Courtney Lawes was entrusted to lead out the Saints on their home turf. The England and Lions lock set down an early marker as he barged over in the corner for the first try of the evening after four minutes. Lawes had Tom Collins to thank for that after the fleet-footed Saints wing scythed through the Bath defence before delivering a deft offload to send his Northampton team-mate crashing over. Sam Underhill, the 21-year-old England hopeful, made his Bath debut at openside after his summer move from the Ospreys but it was Saints backrower Teimana Harrison who caught the eye. When Northampton No 8 Harrison was penalised for not releasing on the ground, Bath were finally afforded the opportunity to get some points on the board. Rhys Priestland made no mistake from the tee to make it 5-3 after 26 minutes. A monstrous Bath scrum allowed Welsh fly-half Priestland to put his side 6-5 up but Northampton had the final say of the half as Ribbans, 22, powered over from close range to make it 12-6. Ribbans crossed again thanks to powerful carries from Luther Burrell and George North in the build-up. North crossed late to seal the bonus point and hand Bath their first defeat. Elsewhere, England wing Jack Nowell was on the scoresheet as Exeter won 41-10 at Worcester, while his fellow Red Rose flyer Denny Solomona crossed twice in Sale’s 36-7 win over London Irish.