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 the television match official had spotted a high shot from Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi on Henry Pollock (who else), was the equivalent of Northampton Saints 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 who 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. Bath protested the decision with referee Luke Pearce but those complaints were in vain.
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 four 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 10 points clear of the Tigers in third.
“We are top of the table having lost once this season, so let’s not get too carried away with this game of rugby,” said Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby. “But, fundamentally, this game of rugby was not good enough and it could have been a second loss. Delighted with the win but very disappointed by the performance. Lee Radford [defence coach] is particularly annoyed. Rugby is supposed to be fun – an underrated word – but we cannot rely on the Harlem Globetrotters stuff to get us out of trouble.”
The Saints’ brand of rugby is at times glorious and joyous but there remain 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, the hosts looked nervy beyond belief, lacking control. It should be said that Bath played their part, too; the depth and grit built by Johann van Graan is seriously impressive. Ciaran Donoghue, on his first appearance in nine months, was immense at fly-half for Bath.
“Sport, eh?” said Van Graan, Bath’s head of rugby. “It is an amazing thing and takes you to many different emotions but we are gutted to lose like that. Equally, what an amazing game of rugby between two brilliant sides. The 23 were phenomenal today and I could not be prouder to be their coach. That performance was not a surprise to us.”
We were robbed of a full-bore rematch of that thrilling Champions Cup quarter-final between these two sides earlier in the month, as Bath, with their semi-final against Bordeaux next Sunday, chose to rest most of their front-line players.
With less than three minutes on the clock, Fraser Dingwall offloaded neatly to Smith, who raced under the sticks.
Both sides suffered early first-half yellow cards – Tom Litchfield for a ruck indiscretion and Will Muir for a deliberate knock-on – but both were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over. No sooner had Donoghue launched the Hail Mary to Louie Hennessey than Alex Mitchell was buzzing around the back of a maul, fizzing a miss-pass to Freeman to score.
Northampton were starting to purr. Some fabulous handling in the midfield – Litchfield, Smith, Freeman and George Hendy all involved – gave Ollie Sleightholme a run-in from 40 metres for an exceptionally stylish score.
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 25, 2026"Welcome to the house of run."
Ollie Sleightholme races away to extend Northampton Saints' lead 🚗💨
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But Bath did manage to hit back through Arthur Green, before Northampton’s bonus-point try, secured within the half-hour mark, which was a peach. Litchfield and Mitchell broke from their own 22 and fed Sleightholme, who ate up the open prairie. Josh Bayliss, one of the league’s quickest back-rowers, did well to cut off the Saints wing on the angle but, when Northampton recycled possession, Dingwall was able to fire the scoring pass to Freeman.
Valiantly, Bath cut the deficit to just five points shortly after half-time, as Hennessey fired a scoring pass inside to Tom Carr-Smith.
Sleightholme restored the Saints’ cushion after a nifty peel at the line-out, but Bath would just not go away. Tom De Glanville waltzed over after sterling work in the build-up from Frost.
Bath unloaded the cavalry and it was one of those replacements, Archie Griffin, who incredibly levelled the scores with 20 minutes to play and leave Franklin’s Gardens stunned.
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 25, 2026Bath are back in it 💥 🛁
Archie Griffin powers over to level the scores 😤
What a finish we have in store 👀
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Northampton, like their crowd around them, grew anxious. Holding-on penalties were being celebrated like tries. When Freeman combined again with Litchfield to seal his hat-trick, the home crowd were sent into raptures. Moments later, Tuipulotu silenced them. There was just enough time left for Smith to save the Saints’ bacon.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 5-0 F Smith try, 7-0 F Smith con, 7-5 Hennessey try, 7-7 Donoghue con, 12-7 Freeman try, 14-7 F Smith con, 19-7 Sleightholme try, 21-7 F Smith con, 19-12 Green try, 19-14 Donoghue con, 26-14 Freeman try, 26-19 Carr-Smith try, 26-21 Donoghue con, 31-21 Sleightholme try, 31-26 De Glanville try, 31-31 Griffin try, 36-31 Freeman try, 38-31 F Smith con, 38-36 Tuipulotu try, 38-38 Donoghue con, 41-38 F Smith pen.
Northampton: Hendy; Freeman, Litchfield, Dingwall, Sleightholme (Hutchinson 70); F Smith, Mitchell (McParland 50); Iyogun (Fischetti 41), Wright (R Smith 41), Green (Kundiona 41, Green 64), Lockett, Prowse (Van der Mescht 54, Munga 75), Kemeny, Graham, Pollock.
Sin-bin: Litchfield.
Bath: De Glanville; Hennessey (Winters 78), C Harris, Butt, Muir; Donoghue, Van der Linde (Carr-Smith 10); Kirk (Van Wyk 50), Frost (Tuipulotu 50), Verden (Griffin 50), Richards (Opoku-Gyamfi 50), Molony, Bayliss (Hill 50), Reid, Green (Underhill 50).
Sin-bin: Muir.
Referee: Luke Pearce.
Up next
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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.
Bath DOR Johann van Graan speaking to TNT Sports
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“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.”
Post-match thoughts of Northampton DOR Phil Dowson
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“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.”
Top six in the Prem with four regular season games remaining
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- 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.
Bath’s captain Miles Reid speaking to TNT Sports
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“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.”
This round of Prem fixtures
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Friday:
Newcastle 19 Bristol 52
Today:
Harlequins 33 Sale 52
Saracens 19 Leicester 15
Northampton 41 Bath 38
Sunday:
Gloucester vs Exeter 3.30pm
Full time: Northampton 41 Bath 38
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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.
81 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 38
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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.
80 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 38
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Northampton are in possession inside the Bath 22 as the clock ticks into the red...
79 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 38
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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.
TRY! Tuipulotu hits back for Bath
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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.
75 mins: Northampton 38 Bath 31
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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.
TRY! Freeman hat-trick gives Northampton lead back
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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.
72 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 31
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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.
70 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 31
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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.
65 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 31
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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.
TRY! Griffin over from close range
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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.
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 25, 2026Bath are back in it 💥 🛁
Archie Griffin powers over to level the scores 😤
What a finish we have in store 👀
📺 Stream TNT Sports with HBO Max pic.twitter.com/mBfXjQPfB5
58 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
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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.
56 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
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The chance is wasted though by the hosts as they knock on at the maul.
55 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
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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.
51 mins: Northampton 31 Bath 26
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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.
TRY! Bath respond through De Glanville
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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.
TRY! Sleightholme at the double
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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.
45 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 21
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Bath are caught offside on their 10-metre line and Smith will kick towards the corner.
TRY! Carr-Smith gives Bath the perfect start to the second half
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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.
41 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
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Northampton have changed their entire front-row at the break with Smith, Fischetti and Kundiona all coming on.
Looking over their shoulder?
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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.
This round of Prem fixtures
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Friday:
Newcastle 19 Bristol 52
Today:
Harlequins 33 Sale 52
Saracens 19 Leicester 15
Northampton 26 Bath 14 HT
Sunday:
Gloucester vs Exeter 3.30pm
Half-time
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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.
39 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
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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.
36 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
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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.
33 mins: Northampton 26 Bath 14
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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.
TRY! Freeman secures Northampton’s bonus point
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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!
TRY! Bath hit back again
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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.
23 mins: Northampton 21 Bath 7
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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.
22 mins: Northampton 21 Bath 7
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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.
TRY! Sleightholme over for Northampton’s third
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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.
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 25, 2026"Welcome to the house of run."
Ollie Sleightholme races away to extend Northampton Saints' lead 🚗💨
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18 mins: Northampton 14 Bath 7
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Northampton are restored to 15 men as Litchfield returns from his period in the bin.
TRY! Freeman restores Northampton’s lead
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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.
14 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 7
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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.
13 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 7
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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.
11 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 7
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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.
TRY! Hennessey hits back for Bath
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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.
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 25, 2026Bath bounce back 🛁🔥
A perfectly weighted pass from Ciaran Donoghue releases Louie Hennessey into space on the right wing, and he does the rest 😍
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8 mins: Northampton 7 Bath 0
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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.
TRY! Smith gives Northampton early lead
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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.
2 mins: Northampton 0 Bath 0
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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.
Kick-off
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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?
Reminder of the teams
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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.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 JJ Van Der Mescht, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Callum Chick, 22 Archie McParland, 23 Rory Hutchinson.
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.
Our man on the ground
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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.
Much-changed
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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.
Just a few weeks ago
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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:
Top six in the Prem
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- 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)
This round of Prem fixtures
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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
Teams
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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.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 JJ Van Der Mescht, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Callum Chick, 22 Archie McParland, 23 Rory Hutchinson.
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.
Battle for top spot
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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.
“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.
Kick-off from Franklin’s Gardens is at 5.30pm.