These two love serving up thrillers, and in the Saturday springtime sunshine we had another (albeit flawed) instalment to add to the ever-growing series.A Fin Smith penalty with the clock in the red, after a high shot from Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu on Henry Pollock (who else) was the equivalent of Northampton playing a get-out-of-jail-free card against a largely second-string Bath side.In the clash of the reigning champions against the side which beat them in the final a season earlier, Northampton thought they had sealed the win late on as Tommy Freeman completed his hat-trick, but a late Kepu Tuipulotu try levelled the scores until Smith’s late strike off the tee, bang in front of the sticks.The nervy, bonus-point victory keeps the Saints in pole position for a home play-off at the end of the season and moves them six points clear at the top of the Prem table. Leicester’s loss to Saracens on Saturday, coupled with Northampton’s victory, leaves the league leaders 11 points clear of the Tigers in third.The Saints’ brand of rugby is at times glorious and joyous but there remains question marks around their mentality. Some bookmakers had Northampton as 19-point favourites but Bath ripped up those pre-match predictions and forced the Saints into the mightiest of all wobbles. Northampton cruised in the first half but in the second, with Bath’s belief growing, they looked nervy beyond belief and lacked control, guidance and management.
Northampton have a week off before taking on Midlands rivals Leicester at Welford Road in two weeks.
Meanwhile Bath, having beaten Northampton in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, have a European semi-final to look forward to next weekend when they take on Bordeaux next Sunday.
“Look, the referee made a decision [to give Northampton a late penalty to win the game]. Gutted to lose an amazing game like that. We are tough to beat and stick to our processes. We came here to win and congratulations to Northampton. It was a great game of rugby and I am so proud of our lads. They are a brilliant side. We back our squad and we do not listen to outside noise. That was a great advert for the Prem, two great teams. The European quarter-final went down to the last few minutes and this one went down to the last kick.”
“Delighted with the five points, that is what we came after, but really frustrated with the performance. When we played them in Europe, we spoke about defence and how we wanted to be better. Against a good Exeter team last week we played with some of those elements but we were not at it as much as we wanted to. Bath were excellent and we went away from our game. They played very well and we were very poor.
“Fundamentally we were too easy to score against. Our greatest successes have come off the back of our set-piece and defence, with the attack being the trademark. Attack is the thing the media will pick up on but as a group all we talk about is our physicality. We spend as much time on our defence as our attack. Throughout this season our defence has been good but recently we have not got there with our defence. The game does not lie.”
Exeter play tomorrow afternoon at Gloucester in their 14th game.
“It was a tough and wild game in this heat, which we have not had in a while. Playing Northampton just a few weeks back we knew how they play and our gameplan suited that in the first 20 minutes. We knew the impact our bench would have but gutted to be on that side of things. We wanted to stay clam at half-time and we know how to fight, which is our great strength. We pride ourselves on being tough to beat and we showed that. We know as a squad we can rotate and challenge these boys.”
Today:Harlequins 33 Sale 52Saracens 19 Leicester 15Northampton 41 Bath 38
Smith slots the simple three and Northampton win it with the final kick of the game, three minutes into the red. Northampton extend their lead at the top but a much-changed Bath take two points home with them. These two sides delivered an enthralling game with a similar scoreline just a few weeks ago in the Champions Cup, with Bath that time on the winning side, but this time Northampton just edge over the line.
FIN SMITH CLUTCH 😍🔥THAT'S THE KICK. THAT'S THE GAME.@saintsrugby take the victory and increase their lead at the top of the Gallagher PREM 📊📺 Stream TNT Sports with HBO Max pic.twitter.com/dPunFqojI2
Smith goes for the drop goal from just outside the Bath 22 but it goes wide. However, the TMO wants to check for a potential high tackle. Replays show that there was a high shot from Opoku-Gyamfi on Pollock to gift Northampton a penalty on the Bath 22 from right in front of the sticks. Smith will have a simple kick to win the game for Northampton.
Northampton are in possession inside the Bath 22 as the clock ticks into the red...
Northampton attack from inside their own 22 and Freeman makes great progress into the Bath half. However, Litchfield is then bundled into touch with just 30 seconds left.
Bath hit back again, as they have done numerous times this afternoon, and have the chance to come level again. Tuipulotu goes over from close range but the replays did seem to suggest he crawled his way to the line but the officials have cleared it. That is very dubious. The conversion is added and we are all square again at 38-38 with a few minutes left.
Kepu Tuipulotu goes over - and @bathrugby are level again through Donoghue's conversion 🛁 📺 Stream TNT Sports with HBO Max pic.twitter.com/0Rm3lxIA6j
Bath steal possession inside the Northampton 22 before Van der Mescht intercepts and clears. Donoghue catches inside his own 22 before executing a lovely 50:22. This game is far from over. Van der Mescht has actually gone down after taking a blow to his knee.
Franklin’s Gardens roars as the home side go back into the lead with seven minutes remaining. Freeman is the man to create it, making a break on the outside before passing outside to Litchfield, who returns the favour by passing back inside on the Bath 22 for Freeman to score his hat-trick. Smith adds the extras and Northampton lead by seven.
Coming off his wing and into the line 😮💨👌Tommy Freeman finishes a stellar @saintsrugby move for his hat-trick ✨📺 Stream TNT Sports with HBO Max pic.twitter.com/QV9jWzz2l0
Bath are in possession inside the Northampton 22 after a knock-on from the hosts but their attack is ended as Northampton win a penalty at the breakdown. Pollock was the man to win Northampton the penalty at the ruck, getting over the ball well having just released.