Source link : https://rugby-247.com/2025/01/06/bath-left-gutted-after-emotional-rollercoaster/
Fin Smith’s last-gasp penalty gave reigning champions Northampton a 35-34 victory over Johann van Graan’s English Premiership leaders Bath in a pulsating game of nine tries on Sunday.
It was Bath’s fifth consecutive loss at Franklin’s Gardens, but they showed remarkable resilience to recover from 19-0 down to lead with four minutes to go, outscoring their opponents by five tries to four.
Joe Cokanasiga scored two tries for Bath. Orlando Bailey, Will Stuart and Max Ojomoh were also on the scoresheet, with Finn Russell converting three and adding a penalty.
Josh Kemeny, Fraser Dingwall, James Ramm and George Hendy scored Saints’ tries, with Smith kicking three conversions and three penalties.
Northampton made an explosive start and led 26-12 at the interval despite a Bath fightback.
The visitors took the lead for the first time in the 63rd minute when Miles Reid charged down a kick from Rory Hutchinson for Cokanasiga to gather and outpace the defence.
But Smith put Saints back in front with nine minutes remaining with a 40m kick.
Smith then missed with a penalty from inside his own half before Northampton’s Alex Mitchell was sin-binned for a high tackle on Ollie Lawrence, with Russell knocking over the kick, but Smith had the final say when Sam Underhill offended.
Bath remain top, six points ahead of Bristol, while Northampton stay eighth, 15 points clear of next-to-bottom Exeter.
“We obviously will take loads from the win as you can’t coach grit, but there will only be a change in momentum and fortune if we can kick on from here in our next games,” said Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson.
Bath director of rugby Van Graan said: “It was a phenomenal game and certainly an emotional rollercoaster, but we’ll just have to take our two [bonus] points and move on.
“The guys are obviously gutted as they fought so hard, but we showed we are tough to beat and if we go anywhere in the world we’ll fight all the way.”
MORE: How Van Graan rebuilt ‘broken’ Bath
Premiership round 10 results:
Newcastle 14 Harlequins 38
Saracens 35 Bristol 26
Leicester 28 Exeter 15
Gloucester 36 Sale 20
Northampton 35 Bath 34
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Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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Publish date : 2025-01-06 06:47:14
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