Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership Round 1: Bath 38-16 Northampton
Joe Cokanasiga scored the opening try for Bath
©Steve Haag
Bath Rugby 38-16 Northampton Saints, The Recreation Ground
Bath came up with a five-try performance as they sealed a 38-16 win over Northampton Saints in the opening round of the Gallagher Premiership at The Recreation Ground on Saturday.
The result also meant that Bath avenged their defeat to the Saints in the last season's final which they went on to lose 21-25.
Bath exerted pressure early in the game pushing into Northampton's 22 and after a period of sustained pressure, Joe Cokanasiga dived in the corner for the opening try and Finn Russell kicked the conversion to make it 7-0.
After Fin Smith and Russell missed a penalty chance, the Saints opened their account in the 18th minute when George Furbank breached the defence of the home side and set up Josh Kemeny over the line. Smith's conversion helped them level the scores by the end of the opening quarter.
The 26th minute saw Ted Hill crossed under the posts and Ben Spencer followed the suit for their third try to take their tally to 21 points while a penalty kick from Smith ensured the Saints trailed by 11 points at the end of the opening half.
Smith with two penalty kicks in the third quarter reduced Northampton's deficit to five points before Ollie Lawrence pounced on a loose ball to dot down for their bonus point try and Russell's conversion made it 28-16.
Any chance of a comeback from Northampton was put off with Kemeny yellow carded for illegally entering a maul and Jaco Coetzee followed it with the fifth try for Bath as they completed a comfortable win.
Team line up:
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Butt, Muir; Russell, Spencer; Obano, Dunn, Stuart, Roux, Ewels, Hill, Reid, Barbeary.
Reserves: Annett, van Wyk, Griffin, Jac du Plessis, Pepper, Schreuder, Bailey, Coetzee.
Northampton: Furbank; Ramm, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Sleightholme; Smith, James; Iyogun, Langdon, Davison, Scott-Young, Munga, Kemeny, Pearson, Graham.
Reserves: Smith, West, Green, Hunter-Hill, Augustus, McParland, Thame, Freeman.
