Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Northampton 24-18 Bath
Tommy Freeman was part of the winning Northampton side
©PA
Northampton Saints 24-18 Bath Rugby, cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens
Northampton Saints have secured a second win in the ongoing Gallagher Premiership season as they edged out Bath Rugby 24-18 in the fourth round at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.
Northampton now have moved to the fourth place in the table with 11 points while Bath continue to remain at third with 12 points.
The home side got the first points on the board as they won a penalty inside Bath's half and Fin Smith made a long-range kick to take them to a 3-0 lead. Bath went on to level the scores in the 6th minute as Tommy Freeman was penalised for not holding on and Orlando Bailey kicked a three-pointer to level the scores.
The scores continued to remain level around the half-hour mark as Tom Pearson and Thomas du Toit traded tries before the hosts managed to seize the lead at the end of the opening half when Miles Reid found space down the left allowing Tom de Glanville to touchdown. Bailey missed out on the conversion as the Saints completed the opening half with a 17-15 lead.
Northampton were the quickest to get off the block in the second half as George Hendy evaded tackles from Sam Underhill and Orlando Bailey to dot down and Smith improved it to make it 24-15 after which the gap came down to six points following a successful penalty kick from Ben Spencer in the 69th minute.
Just as Bath looked to launch an attack in the closing stage, Sam Graham came up with a game-winning turnover to ensure the Saints completed a thrilling win.
Team line up:
Northampton: Furbank (capt); Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Hendy; F Smith, James; A Waller, Langdon, Millar Mills, Moon, Coles, Scott-Young, Pearson, Ludlam.
Reserves: Cruse, E Waller, Hill, Munga, Graham, McParland, Sleightholme, Seabrook.
Bath: De Glanville; McConnochie, Ojomoh, Redpath, Muir; Bailey, Schreuder; Obano, Annett, Du Toit, McNally, Lee-Warner, Reid (capt), Underhill, Coetzee.
Reserves: Dunn, Schoeman, Stuart, Ewels, Barbeary, Spencer, Harris, Hennessey.
