Fin Smith's last-minute penalty secured a dramatic victory for Northampton against Bath. The match showcased thrilling moments despite some flaws in play.
Key points
Fin Smith scored a last-minute penalty
Northampton defeated Bath
The match featured thrilling moments
Bath played with a second-string team
Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu's foul led to the penalty
NorthamptonBathFin SmithEnoch Opoku-Gyamfu
Fin Smith kicks a last-minute penalty to seal victory for Northampton
Fin Smith’s last-minute penalty sealed victory for Northampton - David Rogers/Getty Images
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.
Full report to follow...
07:46pm
Up next
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.
Q&A
What was the outcome of the Northampton vs Bath game?
Northampton won the game with a last-minute penalty by Fin Smith.
Who scored the decisive penalty for Northampton?
Fin Smith scored the decisive last-minute penalty for Northampton.
What incident led to the last-minute penalty in the Northampton-Bath match?
The penalty was awarded after a high shot from Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu on Henry Pollock.
Was Bath's team full-strength during the match against Northampton?
No, Bath fielded a largely second-string side in the match against Northampton.
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07:43pm
Bath DOR Johann van Graan speaking to TNT Sports
“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.”
07:40pm
Post-match thoughts of Northampton DOR Phil Dowson
“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.”
07:34pm
Top six in the Prem with four regular season games remaining
Northampton- 62 points
Bath- 58 points
Leicester- 52 points
Bristol- 48 points
Exeter- 47 points*
Saracens- 42 points
Exeter play tomorrow afternoon at Gloucester in their 14th game.
07:29pm
Bath’s captain Miles Reid speaking to TNT Sports
“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.”
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.
07:21pm
81 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 38
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.
07:19pm
80 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 38
Northampton are in possession inside the Bath 22 as the clock ticks into the red...
07:18pm
79 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 38
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.
07:15pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Tuipulotu hits back for Bath
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.
07:13pm
75 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 31
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.
07:11pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Freeman hat-trick gives Northampton lead back
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.
07:10pm
72 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 31
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.
07:07pm
70 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 31
This game is becoming very loose and tense, with this game potentially having big ramifications on who will finish top. All square heading into the final 10 minutes.
07:01pm
65 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 31
Kundiona picked up a knock earlier and continued but now he is being forced off due to injury. Green is back on for Northampton at tighthead prop.
This game could really go either way and you can sense the nerves inside Franklin’s Gardens. This would be a big psychological blow for Northampton if they do not win, considering they are at home and Bath have rested a lot of players.
06:55pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Griffin over from close range
Bath have a penalty advantage but do not need it and could now take the lead for the first time. After a number of phases right on the Northampton line, replacement tighthead prop Griffin powers his way over from a metre or so out. That brings Bath level and Donoghue has a kick to put them in front. However, it slides by the right upright and we are all square at 31-31.
06:54pm
58 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
That is fantastic from Carr-Smith, who spots the space in behind the Northampton defence and the ball goes into touch inside the hosts’ 22 for a 50:22. Northampton then illegally collapse the maul and win a penalty just over five metres out from the Northampton line.
Bath will take a quick tap.
06:51pm
56 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
The chance is wasted though by the hosts as they knock on at the maul.
06:49pm
55 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
Northampton make a change in the second row as big Van der Mescht comes on with a big cheer from the home crowd.
Northampton now win a scrum penalty inside the Bath 22 but play is halted as replacement tighthead prop Kundiona is down after that scrum. Kundiona is now back to his feet and Smith puts the penalty into the corner.
06:45pm
51 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
Bath have made six changes at once, all in the pack. Tuipulotu, van Wyk, Griffin, Opoku-Gyamfi, Hill and Underhill are all on.
Northampton have made a switch at scrum-half with McParland replacing Mitchell.
06:43pm Key moments • Tries
TRY! Bath respond through De Glanville
This game is far from over as Bath secure the bonus-point try. Frost and Bayliss are brought down just shy of the line before the ball is moved out to the left, where Bath have numbers and De Glanville finishes it off. Donoghue’s conversion leaks out to the right.
06:40pm Tries • Key moments
TRY! Sleightholme at the double
Just as Bath were back within one score, Northampton extend their lead. They come around the front of the lineout and somehow Sleightholme manages to power through a few tackles to go over for his second try of the afternoon. Smith’s conversion just misses to the left.
06:38pm
45 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 21
Bath are caught offside on their 10-metre line and Smith will kick towards the corner.
06:35pm Key moments • Tries
TRY! Carr-Smith gives Bath the perfect start to the second half
A minute after the break, Bath are over to cut Northampton’s lead. They are on the attack on the Northampton 22 and have numbers down the blindside. The pass from Donoghue is flat and fantastic, allowing Hennessey to run onto it down the right touchline. He then passes inside to Carr-Smith, who goes over untouched. The last two passes are checked and cleared. Donoghue’s conversion looks terrible but goes in off the left upright.
06:34pm
41 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
Northampton have changed their entire front-row at the break with Smith, Fischetti and Kundiona all coming on.
06:33pm
Second half
We are back under way at Franklin’s Gardens.
06:27pm
Looking over their shoulder?
Bath took the decision to rest a number of key starters this week ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux next weekend. As it stands, Northampton would go six points clear of Bath, who would be four points clear of Leicester. These next 40 minutes are important for Bath, with Leicester not far behind them, as well as Northampton. Bath will want to make sure they get a home semi-final but could have Leicester breathing down their necks if they cannot take anything from this game.
Pollock takes a quick tap from a penalty on halfway and kicks ahead. It is a foot race to the Bath line, with Kemeny and Frost racing back. Frost seemed to get to it first and has Kemeny taken it out of his hands on the ground? The TMO deems it a “simultaneous grounding” so it is no try.
That brings a rather crazy and end-to-end half to an end, with Northampton 26-14 up at the break.
06:14pm
39 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
Play is halted as Pollock has gone down, clutching at his back. The TMO is taking a look to see if Muir should be penalised for a shove on Pollock as the ball was in the air. It is deemed by referee Luke Pearce as just an “unfortunate incident” and nothing more. Probably a wise decision just to play on.
06:11pm
36 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
On a Bath feed at a scrum on their own 22, Northampton’s pack does the business and wins the penalty. Northampton go to the corner.
However, a few phases later, Dingwall knocks on just five metres shy of the line.
06:07pm
33 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
Northampton think they have their fifth try of the afternoon but will it stand? Iyogun thinks he has scored and the try is initially given. However, on closer inspection, the replays show he loses contact with the ball as he goes to ground so the try is chalked off. There was clear separation so it does not stand.
06:04pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Freeman secures Northampton’s bonus point
I do not think words can describe how bonkers that try was. At one end, Bath look like scoring but somehow Northampton steal it five metres from their own line. They then counter and Sleightholme looks like he will have the pace to go all the way but Bayliss shows great wheels for a back-row to get back. Northampton recycle it quickly and Bath cannot get back in time to prevent Freeman from scoring his second of the game. Somehow Smith misses the conversion! Everyone needs to take a breath!
06:00pm Key moments • Tries
TRY! Bath hit back again
The visitors are back up to 15 and cut into Northampton’s lead. It is a first-phase try from a scrum for Bath on the Northampton 10-metre line as they come down their right. There is a suspicion of a forward pass from Carr-Smith but the officials are fine with it. His pass finds Hennessey, who bursts through a few tackles on the 22 before offloading inside to Butt, who passes to Green to score. The extras are added and the gap is now seven points.
05:56pm
23 mins: Northampton 21 Bath 7
Lockett has brought the maul down illegally five metres out from his own line and is fortunate not to go to the bin for that. Bath will take a quick tap but a few phases later Butt knocks on into contact. Opportunity wasted by the visitors.
05:55pm
22 mins: Northampton 21 Bath 7
That will deeply frustrate Phil Dowson and his coaching staff as they concede a penalty straight from the kick-off as they seal off on their own 22. Bath kick to the corner.
05:54pm Key moments • Tries
TRY! Sleightholme over for Northampton’s third
The home side’s backline is starting to pur. They are in possession just inside the Bath half and the offloading along the line is perfection, with each pass being made at just the right moment to allow Sleightholme to sprint along the left wing to score. Bath being down a man also did not help their cause defending that. Smith’s conversion hits the upright but still goes in.
05:51pm
18 mins: Northampton 14 Bath 7
Northampton are restored to 15 men as Litchfield returns from his period in the bin.
05:47pm Key moments • Tries
TRY! Freeman restores Northampton’s lead
The home side are back in front. With a penalty advantage in hand from the lineout, Mitchell comes down the blindside and Northampton have numbers. Mitchell finds Freeman with a flat pass and the latter has the easiest of finishes. Smith adds the extras.
05:46pm
14 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 7
Another penalty goes Northampton’s way after a Bath offside. In fact, there could be more trouble for Bath as there may well have been a deliberate knock-on after that initial offence. Muir is the man who could be in trouble, deliberately knocking the ball on just over five metres away from the line as Mitchell was passing towards Freeman. Muir is sent to the bin but Bath are fortunate it was not a penalty try. Both sides are now down to 14 men.
05:44pm
13 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 7
After winning a penalty on the Bath 10-metre line, Northampton kick towards the corner. They then win another penalty as Bath lock Molony is thrown across at the lineout. Northampton take a quick tap.
05:43pm
11 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 7
Bath have been forced into an early change at scrum-half as Carr-Smith replaces Van der Linde, who played a big part in that Bath try and Northampton yellow card. Spencer will surely start next week for Bath in the Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux at nine but Van der Linde would be in that matchday squad if fit but he may well miss that game now.
05:40pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Hennessey hits back for Bath
The visitors strike back with Northampton down to 14 men. With a penalty advantage in hand deep inside the Northampton 22, Bath shift it into the hands of the backs and a long pass is sent out to Hennessey in space on the right wing and he does the rest. Donoghue gets the conversion and we are all square at 7-7.
05:39pm
8 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 0
Van der Linde makes a great break from around the Northampton 10-metre line, spotting a gap on the fringes of the ruck and sprints right through it. He takes Bath deep into the Northampton 22 before being brought down just shy of the line. Northampton then give away a cynical penalty and Litchfield is sent to the bin.
05:33pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Smith gives Northampton early lead
The home side strike first and the man who scored their winning try last week against Exeter gets them on the scoresheet this afternoon. Dingwall breaks a tackle inside the Bath 22 and then offloads for Smith, who has the pace to go over. He then converts his own try to give Northampton a 7-0 lead and a perfect start.
Saints have started at 100mph here, and Bath did everything they could to slow their hosts down after that opening try as they ambled to take the restart. Referee Luke Pearce had to chivvy them along.
05:33pm
2 mins: Northampton 0 Bath 0
The first penalty of the game goes the way of the hosts as Bath number eight Green fails to roll away on the Northampton 10-metre line. Smith takes the home side up towards the Bath 22.
05:30pm
Kick-off
We are under way at a very sunny Franklin’s Gardens. Will Northampton consolidate their spot at the top or will a much-changed Bath usurp them at the summit?
05:26pm
Reminder of the teams
Northampton starting XV: 15 George Hendy, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Craig Wright, 3 Luke Green, 4 Tom Lockett, 5 Ed Prowse, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Sam Graham, 8 Henry Pollock.
Bath starting XV: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Louie Hennessey, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 9 Bernard van der Linde; 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Arthur Green.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Sam Winters, 23 Sam Underhill.
05:23pm Analysis
Our man on the ground
A balmy afternoon here at Franklin’s Gardens, but we might not get the cracker that we all wanted. With a Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux next Sunday, Bath have rested the majority of their front-line players, and anything other than a comfortable home win would be a shock. Bath’s gamble to rotate this weekend looks to have paid off, too, with Leicester losing at Saracens, maintaining the daylight between second and third in the Prem table notwithstanding the result this evening.
05:19pm
Much-changed
With a Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux to come next weekend, Bath have decided to rest quite a number of key players. Finn Russell, Ben Spencer, Thomas du Toit and Ollie Lawrence are amongst those not involved this afternoon. Having said that, when Northampton took on Bath in the reverse fixture a few months back, Phil Dowson’s side claimed a victory also with a much-changed side.
05:14pm
Just a few weeks ago
These two teams were involved in a thrilling Champions Cup quarter-final at The Rec two weeks back and you can enjoy the highlights, and there are plenty of them, from that match:
05:08pm
Top six in the Prem
Northampton- 57 points (13 games)
Bath- 56 points (13 games)
Leicester- 52 points (14 games)
Bristol- 48 points (14 games)
Exeter- 47 points (13 games)
Saracens- 42 points (14 games)
04:59pm
This round of Prem fixtures
Friday:
Newcastle 19 Bristol 52
Today:
Harlequins 33 Sale 52
Saracens 19 Leicester 15
Northampton vs Bath 5.30pm
Sunday:
Gloucester vs Exeter 3.30pm
04:53pm Key moments
Teams
Northampton starting XV: 15 George Hendy, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Craig Wright, 3 Luke Green, 4 Tom Lockett, 5 Ed Prowse, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Sam Graham, 8 Henry Pollock.
Bath starting XV: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Louie Hennessey, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 9 Bernard van der Linde; 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Arthur Green.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Sam Winters, 23 Sam Underhill.
04:46pm Key moments
Battle for top spot
The top two in the Gallagher Prem meet at Franklin’s Gardens as top of the table Northampton host defending champions Bath. Just one point separates these sides with five rounds of the regular season remaining. These sides met in an enthralling quarter-final encounter in the Champions Cup just a couple of weeks ago, with Bath taking a 43-41 win to book their place in the semi-finals, despite Northampton leading for most of the game.
Northampton were involved in another dramatic game last weekend, with a last-minute winning try from Fin Smith edging them past Exeter down at Sandy Park to keep their place at the top.
“I think we value it [being top] from a competitive point of view,” Northampton DOR Phil Dowson said. “I would much rather be in first place than second place. But fundamentally, if you strip it back to what we wanted to achieve at the start of the year, it was to finish in the top two to qualify for a home semi-final. That is, statistically, one of the best ways to get to a final, to finish in the top two, and there is a ludicrous stat, I want to say, of the 28 semi-finals, there has only been six fixtures that have been one away from home. So to be in the top two is the important thing. Of course, we want to be top dog, and I am sure Bath would say the same. We want to be in the top two, and as a competitive person, you want to be number one.
Fin Smith scores the winning try for Northampton against Exeter
Northampton claimed the latest of late victories last time out - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
“I do not think we are going to rate ourselves on a 20-minute or a 40-minute spell. We are going to rate ourselves on a season-long effort, and we will look at the end of that and decide how we did and what we need to be better at the following year. I do not think we need to judge ourselves or prove anything. I think we have done enough this year to show that we are capable, but how consistent can we be in those elements of our game.”
Bath cruised to a comfortable victory over Harlequins at The Rec last Saturday and would replace Northampton at the top if they win today. In the reverse fixture at The Rec back in December, a much-changed Northampton beat Bath so Phil Dowson’s side are looking to do the league double over Johann van Graan’s men.
