Northampton 35-34 Bath: Player Ratings from nine-try thriller as Saints scrape a last-gasp home win

01/06/2025 04:39 AM

By Tom Harrington

A last-minute penalty from Fin Smith gave Northampton Saints a one-point margin victory over Bath. Saints held a 19-0 lead for the first 15 minutes until Bath's injuries required a reshuffle in the backline, Sam Underhill taking his opportunity and turning the game on its head.

The perfect start for the Black, Green and Gold taking only 79 seconds for josh Kemeny to go under the posts, a brilliant offload by Scotsman Rory Hutchinson. A magnificent variation try made by fly-half Fin Smith a clever chip collected by the Englishmen, Bath caught lacking and quick ball from Alex Mitchell gave Fraser Dingwall a walk-in. A third for Northampton inside 15 minutes, James Ramm cutting through Bath's line with a Saints classic.

However Bath would be next to strike, a mirror of Saints' second score finished by Joe Cokanasiga and an excellent score from Orlando Bailey holding off four Northampton players. Another Fin Smith chip would have the same result, this time George Hendy with the wriggling finish giving the hosts a 14-point lead and their bonus point score. Problems for Johann van Graan's backline as Will Muir appeared to pull his hamstring, the Director forced to use his 7-1 split bench moving Josh Bayliss onto the wing, with Guy Pepper coming off injured earlier, half-time 26-12.

A clever pick and go from Will Stuart, noticed Trevor Davison move from left to right just one metre out, Bath within a converted try. Max Ojomoh went over the whitewash for Bath's bonus-point score. Bath took the lead for the first time in the 63rd minute, with a Cokanasiga brace, brilliant work rate from Miles Reid to charge down Rory Hutchinson's attempted cross-field kick.

Late drama, Fin Smith missed his first attempt at the posts but a Sam Underhill high tackle gave him a second chance which made its way in off the posts, 32-31 with nine minutes to play. A head-on-head collision saw Ollie Lawrence go down and Alex Mitchell sent to the bin, Finn Russell made the kick, 32-34. Sam Underhill penalised for not rolling away, Fin Smith stepped up once again and converts, full-time 35-34.

Northampton Saints: 35

Tries: 4 (Kemeny 1', Dingwall 9', Ramm 13', Hendy 28')

Conversions: 3 (Smith 1', 13', 29')

Penalties: 3 (Smith 49', 71', 80')

Yellow Cards: 1 (Mitchell 76')

Red Cards: 0

Starting XV: 15 George Hendy 14 Tommy Freeman 13 Fraser Dingwall © 12 Rory Hutchinson 11 James Ramm 10 Fin Smith 9 Alex Mitchell 1 Tom West 2 Curtis Langdon 3 Trevor Davison 4 Temo Mayanavanua 5 Alex Coles 6 Josh Kemeny 7 Tom Pearson 8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements: 16 Henry Walker 17 Tarek Haffar 18 Luke Green 19 Tom Lockett 20 Henry Pollock 21 Angus Scott-Young 22 Archie McParland 23 Tom Seabrook

Bath: 34

Tries: 5 (Cokanasiga 15' 63', Bailey 25', Stuart 45', Ojomoh 55')

Conversions: 3 (Russell 25', 46', 56')

Penalties: 1 (Russell 77')

Yellow Cards: 0

Red Cards: 0

Starting XV: 15 Orlando Bailey 14 Joe Cokanasiga 13 Ollie Lawrence 12 Max Ojomoh 11 Will Muir 10 Finn Russell 9 Ben Spencer 1 Beno Obano 2 Tom Dunn 3 Will Stuart 4 Quinn Roux 5 Ross Molony 6 Guy Pepper 7 Miles Reid 8 Alfie Barbeary

Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu 17 Francois van Wyk 18 Thomas du Toit 19 Charlie Ewels 20 Sam Underhill 21 Louis Schreuder 22 Josh Bayliss 23 Jaco Coetzee

Player Ratings: Northampton Saints 35-34 Bath Rugby

Northampton Saints

15 George Hendy – 8

Bonus-point score in the first-half, strong presence around the pitch especially in Bath's 22.

14 Tommy Freeman – 7.5

Quiet game from the winger but strong attacking presence and good in defence

13 Fraser Dingwall (c) – 7.5

Try in the first-half and good in defence

12 Rory Hutchinson – 8

Brilliant offload to assist Kemeny, immense in defence especially in the first period

11 James Ramm – 8

Great score cutting open Bath's line and going all the way, good coverage in the backfield after being moved to fullback

10 Fin Smith – 9

Brilliant from the fly-half, assisting Hendy with his variation of play and winning the game for Northampton with his last-minute penalty

9 Alex Mitchell – 8

Controversial yellow card late on, apart from that a great game from the Englishman

1 Tom West – 7.5

Brought off at half-time, good at breakdowns and scrums

2 Curtis Langdon – 8

Immense in attack constantly breaking the gain-line and a strong scrummage

3 Trevor Davison – 7.5

Strong scrummage and defensive efforts

4 Temo Mayanavanua – 7

Failed his HIA but strong in the air and defensive presence

5 Alex Coles – 7

Another failed HIA for Northampton but like his lock counterpart strong defensive effort and good in the air.

6 Josh Kemeny – 7.5

Early try to his name, really strong attacking presence, distinctive style of attack not afraid to run into any opponent.

7 Tom Pearson – 6.5

Quiet game from the flanker.

8 Juarno Augustus – 7

Good attacking and defensive presence utilised well.

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker- 6.5
17 Tarek Haffar- 7
18 Luke Green- 7
19 Tom Lockett- 6.5
20 Henry Pollock- 7
21 Angus Scott-Young- 6.5
22 Archie McParland- 6.5
23 Tom Seabrook- 7

Bath Rugby

15 Orlando Bailey – 8

Busy opening period alongside Will Muir, bailing his side out multiple times, strong second period.

14 Joe Cokanasiga – 7.5

Brace to his name, very good attacking force.

13 Ollie Lawrence – 7.5

Quiet game despite a good attacking presence.

12 Max Ojomoh – 6.5

Try but apart from that a quiet performance.

11 Will Muir – 6.5

Caught out in Saints' first score, decent attacking presence, brought off early as he pulled his hamstring.

10 Finn Russell – 6.5

Not Russell's greatest performance, not as much magic as you would normally see from him.

9 Ben Spencer – 6.5

Same as his other half, a quiet performance.

1 Beno Obano – 6.5

Strong scrum, decent in defence, like his forward pack a quiet game.

2 Tom Dunn – 6.5

Good defence and scrummage.

3 Will Stuart – 6.5

Try to his name, quiet game.

4 Quinn Roux 5.5

Ineffectual, went missing.

5 Ross Molony – 5.5

Quiet game.

6 Guy Pepper – 5

Brought off inside the first ten minutes.

7 Miles Reid – 6

Great work rate to charge down and assist for Cokonasiga, good in defence.

8 Alfie Barbeary- 5

Quiet game for the number 8.

Replacements:

16 Kepu Tuipulotu – 6

17 Francois van Wyk – 6.5

18 Thomas du Toit – 7.5

19 Charlie Ewels – 6.5

20 Sam Underhill – 7.5

21 Louis Schreuder – 6

22 Josh Bayliss – 7

23 Jaco Coetzee – 6

Five talking points: Northampton Saints 35-34 Bath Rugby

Phil Dowson's review of the game – After his side went 19-0 up within the first 15 minutes, the game started to slip for the hosts especially in the second period where they went try less, Dowson said: "We did loads of good stuff in the game and the second half got a bit scrappy and we struggled to get our game on the pitch."

The importance of this win for Saints– It's safe to say that this is not the start to the season that Northampton saints would have wanted, currently sat in eighth but can the champions 'springboard' back up the league table. Dowson said: "We've got to take loads from it, from a character point of view you can't coach grit so I'm delighted with that, the only thing that makes it a moment swing is our next performance and so that's what we focus on, it's not a new dawn it's lets beat Stade (Francais) away."

Johann van Graan's review of his side – after being 19 points down Bath clawed they way back into the game taking the lead for the first time in the 63rd minute through a Joe Cokanasiga score. Johann van Graan said: "Stick to what we know, we're tough to beat, we never go away, we can go anywhere in the world, and we'll fight. It is the ability to bounce of setbacks and we certainly did, losing Guy (Pepper) pretty early then Will Muir again we adapted really well to it."

Fin Smith's final kick – With the clock in the red Smith took the opportunity to win the game for his side slotting a penalty from 40 metres out. The fly-half said: "I was genuinely thinking this better go in because I felt I let the boys down with the one prior to, we say every time I step up to take a kick what is it I need to do, for me it's head down and my body weight is threw the ball, luckily it went over."

Alex Mitchell and Ollie Lawrence incident – Saints' fly-half and Bath's centre had a head-on head collision which saw Mitchell sent to the bin for the rest of the game. Many believed that Lawrence had broken his nose but ultimately it was only a clash of heads. Johann van Graan said: "I haven't seen Ollie (Lawrence) or our medical team yet but I don't think it was a break." Saints' director Phil Dowson said: "We've seen a few different angles of it and we're looking to remove the concussion danger out of the game."

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