Saints sink Bath as Exeter outclass Worcester

Northampton Saints ended Bath’s 100 per cent start to the Premiership season with a comfortable 24-6 bonus-point win at Franklin’s Gardens.

The hosts made a rapid start as Courtney Lawes went over inside five minutes, although the conversion was missed and two Rhys Priestland penalties had Bath marginally ahead just after the half-hour.

Northampton regained their lead before the interval, though, as David Ribbans drove over from a rolling maul.

And it was lock Ribbans, later named man of the match, who claimed his second in the 53rd minute following good work from Luther Burrell and George North.

? @lutherburrell breaks free in the build-up to the Saints' third try at the Gardens pic.twitter.com/KqNfLXKWJG

— Northampton Saints ? (@SaintsRugby) September 15, 2017

To cap an excellent outing for the Saints, Wales wing North dived over four minutes from time to secure a bonus point.

There were similarly one-sided affairs elsewhere on Friday, as defending champions Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks both enjoyed resounding victories.

Exeter ran in five tries – including two for Sam Simmonds – in a 41-10 rout of bottom club Worcester Warriors, who remain pointless from three matches.

Sale, meanwhile, matched that quintet of scores in their 36-7 demolition of London Irish. Denny Solomona crossed twice, while Irish saw Blair Cowan sent off after two yellows in the second period.