Match Centre: Bristol Bears 62-8 Northampton Saints

Bristol Bears 62-8 Northampton Saints, Ashton Gate

Bristol Bears ran a seven try riot as they trounced Northampton Saints 62-8 in the latest fixture of the Gallagher Premiership at Ashton Gate on Friday.

This is fourth consecutive win for Bristol as they climb to the eighth position in the table while Northampton are at the third position.

Northampton opened their account very early in the game as Max Lahiff strayed offside allowing Fin Smith to land a clean penalty goal. As the Saints were penalised at breakdown, AJ MacGinty kicked a three-pointer of his own in the 10th minute to level the scores.

The opening try of the game came in the 19th minute as Rory Hutchinson's kick went past Fraser Dingwall allowing Harry Randall to gather and touchdown and four minutes later they got their second try when Harry Thacker dived from close range. MacGinty kicked the conversions on both the occasion as the home side raced to a 17-3 lead.

Bristol dominated the remainder of the first half as Randall scored his second after collecting a pass from Charles Piutau, who evaded a couple of defenders and at the stroke of half time the fullback was once again influential in creating the gap for Ioan Lloyd's try.

However, MacGinty's both missed conversions meant Bristol's lead were cut down to 27-3 at the end of the opening half.

Bristol continued from where they left in the first half as Piutau's back-of the-hand pass sent Lloyd over in the corner for the second time and shortly Chris Vui also scored at the back of a ruck. MacGinty kicked both the conversions as Pat Lam's side extended their lead to 41-3.

Northampton had something to cheer as Gabriel Ibitoye offloaded for George Hendy to score in the 55th minute but Smith's conversion went wide making it 41-8.

With no further response from the Saints, further tries from George Kloska, Fitz Harding and Jake Heenan only extended Bristol's winning margin as they completed a dominating 54-point victory.

Team line up:

Bristol: Piutau, Naulago, Radradra, Williams, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Randall (c); Thomas, Thacker, Lahiff, Vui, Batley, Jeffries, Harding, Bradbury.

Reserves: Byrne, Woolmore, Kloska, Luatua, Heenan, Uren, Bedlow, Lloyd.

Northampton: Hendy, Skosan, Dingwall (c), Hutchinson, Collins, Smith, Braley; Waller, Matavesi, Petch, Salakaia-Loto, Moon, Coles, Scott-Young, Graham.

Reserves: Cruse, Waller, Hill, Wilkins, Hinkley, Garside, Grayson, Litchfield.