Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Bath 43-12 Northampton
Alfie Barbeary was one of the try scorer for Bath
©Steve Haag
Bath 43-12 Northampton Saints, The Recreation Ground
Bath secured a home play-off berth as they defeated Northampton 43-12 in the final league round of the Gallagher Premiership at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.
The win meant Bath finished second in the table behind Northampton Saints as they will face Sale Sharks in the play-off. Meanwhile, Saints will have a home semi-final clash against Saracens.
Bath got off the mark early as they won a scrum and from the resulting line out Josh Bayliss touched down from a five-metre line out Will Muir found the gap to touchdown in the 14th minute. Finn Russell kicked both the conversions and followed with a penalty goal to make it 17-0.
The home side's momentum was hampered a bit as Matt Gallagher was sin-binned for an intentional knock on in the 38th minute and Northampton made use of the numerical advantage with James Ramm dotting down but Rory Hutchinson missed out on the conversion as the teams completed the opening half with a 17-5 lead.
Bath were the quickest to get off the block in the second half as Tom Dunn touched down at the back of the maul and Russell improved making it 24-5. The bonus point came in the 55th minute when Ben Spencer intercepted a pass from Ben Spencer to dot down and Russell improved to make it 31-5 before Alfie Barbeary followed the suit to secure their fifth try.
The 63rd minute saw Ollie Lawrence broke the defence of Saints to set up Muir over the line but Orlando Bailey missed out on the conversion before Tom Seabrook scored a consolation try as the home side completed a 31 point victory.
Team line up:
Bath: Gallagher; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, Du Toit, Roux, Ewells, Hill, Underhill, Bayliss.
Reserves: Annett, Schoeman, Stuart, Stooke, Barbeary, Schreuder, Bailey, Reid.
Northampton: Ramm; Seabrooke, Litchfield, Odendaal, Slightholme; Huthcinson, James; Iyogun, S Matavesi, Millar Mills, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Scott-Young, Ludlam (c), Graham.
Reserves: R Smith, Haffar, Hill, Munga, Pearson, McParland, Savala, Thame.
