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Gritty Bath make it three wins from three since the restart as Northampton fold again at home
By PA
Tom de Glanville and Ruaridh McConnochie sealed a third-straight Gallagher Premiership win for Bath since lockdown in a gritty 18-3 win at Northampton Saints. Full-back de Glanville broke the try deadlock just before the hour only to trudge off straight away with a suspected neck injury.
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The 20-year-old son of former England captain Phil de Glanville copped heavy contact from Saints duo Tommy Freeman and Rory Hutchinson but still delivered a smart finish under pressure.
Courtesy of a dominant scrum and a regimented defensive game, Bath nullified Northampton throughout an often scrappy contest and drew full reward when replacement McConnochie raced in for their second score to seal just their second league win at Franklin’s Gardens in 20 years.
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Bath’s third win in a row since the league’s resumption pushed Stuart Hooper’s men up to fourth in the table. Saints, meanwhile, were left to rue a second loss in their three matches since the Premiership’s return, evening out their win-loss ratio to eight apiece.
A turgid first-half’s first meaningful act saw JJ Tonks slip off his tackle on Mercer, flipping the Bath number eight upside down. Tonks walked for the deserved yellow card for his efforts and Bath eventually gained some benefit with Josh Matavesi’s penalty on 20 minutes.
Ruaridh McConnochie scores with his first touch ?
A gift for @bathrugby as the England winger comes straight off the bench and jogs under the posts! pic.twitter.com/JFugXHBInq
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) August 26, 2020
Dan Biggar missed a routine penalty shot just before the half-hour, with Taqele Naiyaravoro brutally swatting Mike Williams aside in the build-up. Wales playmaker Biggar founds his kicking boots to level the scores on 33 minutes, and Josh Matavesi ensured a try-less first-half when hauling down the marauding Naiyaravoro.
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Saints cranked up the pressure after the break, but still failed to find any momentum amid a gritty Bath defence. Bath’s tight work and especially their scrum kept the visitors in the contest, thwarting the Saints on a number of occasions deep in their own 22.
After weathering that extended storm, Bath pounced on one Saints error, finally opening the try scoring just ahead of the hour. Ahsee Tuala spilled replacement scrum-half Ben Spencer’s bomb and in a flash Bath were in at the corner.
De Glanville latched onto the pass over the top and slid home, with the score given after a television match official (TMO) review. That proved de Glanville’s last act of the night however, as the young full-back was replaced after suffering a suspected neck injury.
Matavesi missed the touchline conversion, but Bath still led 8-3 heading into the last quarter. Bath doubled their try count and killed off the contest shortly afterwards, forcing and then capitalising on another Saints error.
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This time Saints replacement Sam Matavesi – brother of Bath fly-half Josh – spilled the ball in contact, and McConnochie strolled home. Replacement fly-half Rhys Priestland slotted the conversion, and later added a penalty as Bath turned the screw at the death.
Brilliant from Tom de Glanville ?
The @bathrugby full-back gets the one-handed finish despite taking a hard hit…
A costly mistake under the high ball instantly punished! pic.twitter.com/H8NgSZQHC9
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) August 26, 2020
