Northampton ran out convincing 24-6 winners over Bristol thanks to a powerful
forward display in an often scrappy encounter at Franklin's Gardens.
Flanker Budge Poutney and centre Matt Allen touched down for Saints, but it
was the home side's pack who stole the show with a robust performance which saw
Bristol's eight come-off second best, especially in the scrum.
The visitors, although without their main creative spark in Argentinian scrum
half Agustin Pichot, were the more threatening in attack in the first half
despite trailing 13-3 at the break.
Centres Leigh Davies and Luke Nabaro looked particularly dangerous, but
Bristol could not carry this momentum into the second period.
And the boot of Northampton full-back Paul Grayson, who kicked 14 points,
ensured Northampton always maintained some breathing space.
Grayson gave Northampton the lead in the first minute when he slotted over a
penalty some ten metres inside Bristol's half.
The two sides took it in turns to launch offensives into their opponent's
territory, but handling was proving difficult in the wet conditions.
Steven Vile levelled the score on 10 minutes when he punished Saints for
straying offside following a series of Bristol attacks close to the home-side's
line.
Bristol nearly took the lead three minutes later, but a rampaging Ben Sturnham
was brought down inches short of the Saints' try-line.
Grayson then kicked Northampton ahead in the 20th minute with another penalty
and Poutney extended the lead further when he rounded-off some good forward play
by the Saints pack to edge over for a try converted by Grayson.
As the first half neared its conclusion, Bristol second-row Garath Archer and
Saints prop Matt Stewart were sin-binned for a minor skirmish.
Allen touched down six minutes into the second period when he dived onto a
neat grubber kick from former All Black flanker Andrew Blowers to push Saints
18-3 ahead. Grayson missed the conversion.
Bristol replied with a Vile penalty in the 55th minute before the boot of
Grayson produced another six points for his side.
Archer was shown a second yellow and was subsequently given his marching
orders card in the 81st minute for hitting Stewart in an off-the-ball-incident
as Northampton held on for a deserved victory.
Northampton:
Tries: Pountney, Allen.
Cons: Grayson.
Pens: Grayson 4.
Northampton: Grayson, Shaw, Hyndman, Allen, Webster, Hepher,
Malone, Pagel, Thompson, Stewart, Phillips, Rodber, Blowers,
Pountney, Lam.
Replacements: Tucker for Hyndman (69),
Brotherstone for Thompson (40), Newman for Phillips (40),
Brouzet for Rodber (61), Todd for Lam (40).
Not Used: Seely, Bramhall.
Sin Bin: Stewart (40).
Bristol: Pens: Vile 2. Bristol: Best, Rees, Nabaro, Davies, Marsden, Vile, Baber,
Johnstone, McCarthy, Fullman, Archer, A. Brown, Salter, Vander,
Sturnham.
Replacements: Mayer for Davies (48), Crompton for Fullman (40),
Sheridan for A. Brown (66), C. Short for Salter (48).
Used: Williams, Dewdney, Reeves.
Sin Bin: Archer (40).
Sent off:Archer (80).
Att: 6,093
Ref: Nigel Yates (RFU).
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