All posts tagged: Northampton Saints

Bath break Northampton hearts on one of European club rugby’s great nights

Bath break Northampton hearts on one of European club rugby’s great nights

Published by Sam Flores

It would be doing Bath a massive disservice to suggest they were all route one as they demonstrated with their third try which was strike play perfection. The scrum was solid and Redpath felt Russell, who faked pumped once to draw a gap to send Henry Arundell scurrying under the posts. Then right on half-time came a try that both coaches identified as a key momentum shift as shortly after Smith missed a penalty to touch, replacement Francois van Wyk was driven over. Russell missed leaving the game tantalising poised at 35-26 to the visitors. After the madness of the first half, Smith took the first conservative decision of the game, by kicking a penalty in front of the posts. However, Saints were reduced to 14 men when JJ van der Mescht was sin-binned following repeated offences in the 22. Bath kicked to the corner and piled what seemed like half of Somerset into the maul with replacement Kepu Tuipulotu grounding the ball. Russell’s conversion made it a five-point game. Another Smith penalty gave Saints …

Northampton Saints and Henry Pollock land late knockout blow on Saracens

Northampton Saints and Henry Pollock land late knockout blow on Saracens

Published by Sam Flores

Saints, who shifted George Furbank to fly-half in Smith’s absence, were struggling without their talisman, while Tommy Freeman was uncharacteristically quiet. They had Pollock to thank for preventing a third for the hosts, as Hugh Tizard, who reassembled something of a circus act as he juggled the ball over the whitewash, was ambushed by a mop of blonde hair. Saints endured further misfortune when Trevor Davidson, who was on as a replacement, limped off injured, but their heads refused to dip. They mounted a head of steam and JJ Van der Mescht was somehow held up deep in the corner and, even after Farrell’s penalty, they had enough nous to get over the finish line after Litchfield – the man who started the show – broke through to set up McParland at the death, and spark Pollock’s celebrations. Match details Scoring sequence 0-5 Litchfield try, 0-7 Smith con, 0-12 McParland try, 0-14 Smith con, 5-14 Elliot try, 7-14 Farrell con, 12-14 Dan try, 14-14 Farrell con, 17-14 Farrell pen, 17-19 McParland try, 17-21 Hutchinson con. …

Henry Pollock revels in pantomime villain role but Northampton still thrashed by Bordeaux

Henry Pollock revels in pantomime villain role but Northampton still thrashed by Bordeaux

Published by Sam Flores

At half-time, Saints trailed by 17 points and against Jalibert, Penaud, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and company the scoreline could easily have turned pear-shaped. To their credit, the visitors did not fold, even if a couple of the hosts’ tries were soft. Tommy Freeman crossed from close range, as did Pollock, before Fischetti – who had to return late on for Emmanuel Iyogun after his early hooking – bagged the consolation bonus. Northampton, despite their Prem hegemony, were beaten and humbled in the bear-pit; Pollock, however, cannot stop catching the eye. Match details Scoring sequence 5-0 Rayasi try, 5-5 Pollock try, 5-7 Belleau con, 10-7 Rayasi try, 12-7 Page-Relo con, 17-7 Page-Relo try, 19-7 Page-Relo con, 24-7 Woki try, 29-7 Rayasi try, 31-7 Page-Relo con, 36-7 Woki try, 38-7 Page-Relo con, 38-12 Freeman try, 38-14 Belleau con, 43-14 Woki try, 45-14 Page-Relo con, 50-14 Jalibert try, 50-19 Pollock try, 50-21 Belleau con, 50-26 Fischetti try, 50-28 Belleau con. Bordeaux Bègles S Rayasi; D Penaud, N Depoortere, Y Moefana (Janse van Rensburg 58), L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert (Carbery …

Tommy Freeman and Saints blast past Bath to top table

Tommy Freeman and Saints blast past Bath to top table

Published by Sam Flores

Nothing could have encapsulated that like the final throes of an extraordinary game. Henry Arundell, who looked totally blinkered and out of sorts, found a glimmer of space down the left, inside the Northampton 22. The wing spotted Lawrence on his inside but the centre, who had already shelled one over the line, inexplicably dropped a pass with the line at his mercy, which scuppered Bath’s bonus-point hopes. Undoubtedly, the day belonged to the Saints. 2025 will forever belong to Bath and their treble heroes but, 2026? Saints would be as safe a bet as any. Match details Scoring sequence: 0-5 Freeman try, 0-7 Belleau con, 5-7 Du Toit try, 7-7 Russell con, 7-12 McParland try, 7-14 Belleau con, 12-14 Dunn try, 14-14 Russell con, 19-14 Du Toit try, 21-14 Russell con, 21-19 Freeman try, 21-21 Belleau con, 21-26 Pollock try, 21-28 Belleau con, 21-33 Pollock try, 21-36 Belleau pen, 21-38 Freeman try. Bath: T de Glanville (S Carreras 56); J Cokanasiga, O Lawrence, M Ojomoh (C Harris 30), H Arundell; F Russell, B Spencer …