Bath's Zurich Premiership survival hopes suffered another huge setback after Northampton compounded their problems at the Recreation Ground.

Saints moved into fifth place after stepping up a gear during the second half to register tries from wing James Brooks substitute hooker Dan Richmond and centre Peter Jorgensen.

Fly-half Paul Grayson chipped in with 14 points from the boot, leaving Bath well and truly embroiled in a relegation dog fight.

If Leeds and Harlequins both win tomorrow, then six-times English champions Bath will find themselves a minimum of three points adrift at the Premiership basement with just five games remaining.

Only two of those fixtures are at home - against Leeds and Wasps - and the West Country outfit now face a monumental battle to preserve their status among English Rugby's elite.

They were still in contention at half-time, trailing just 6-3, but had no answer once Northampton moved through the gears.

Grayson kicked two first half penalties after Bath fly-half Olly Barkley had given his home side a 14th-minute lead, and two further Grayson strikes during the third quarter gave Northampton a winning platform.

At 12-3 adrift Bath's Australian coach Michael Foley made a raft of substitutions, the most notable of which saw wing Tom Voyce replace Barkley. With Barkley off, full back Iain Balshaw moved into the number 10 slot and England centre Mike Tindall assumed goal-kicking responsibilities.

But it was Northampton who increased the tempo, and when flanker Andrew Blowers charged down Tindall's attempted clearance, scrum half Matt Dawson acted as link-man to send Brooks sprinting over.

Although Tindall slotted a 62nd-minute penalty and Voyce collected a try just four minutes later, cutting the arrears to 17-11, Bath couldn't make any further inroads.

Richmond, on as replacement for England hooker Steve Thompson, killed the game off when he scored nine minutes from time - Grayson's conversion putting Northampton 13 points clear - and then Australian Jorgensen finished Bath off by scoring wide out in injury time.

Northampton could even afford to start the match with England wing Ben Cohen among their replacements - he appeared for the second period - and their trend continues to be an upwardly mobile one under new coach, the former All Blacks supremo Wayne Smith.

Today's win, only their second in the league at Bath, takes them above Newcastle into fifth spot. But how Bath must wish they could aspire to such heady heights.

For a team that has won 16 domestic trophies and were crowned kings of Europe just four years ago, their current plight is a desperate one.

Victory over visitors Leeds in two weeks' time is now essential, otherwise they will be staring at the drop into National League One.

Bath still face tough away trips to London Irish, Newcastle and Gloucester, before finishing the season on home soil against Wasps.

But without the likes of injured internationals Mike Catt, Kevin Maggs and Matt Perry, their cause is growing increasingly desperate.

And it could have been even worse, because had England lock Danny Grewcock's haymaker on his Lions Test team-mate Tom Smith connected, then referee Chris White would surely have had no option but to send him off.

Now is the time for people like Grewcock to stand up and be counted, not risk their immediate playing prospects by rash acts of indiscipline.

Teams:

Bath: Balshaw, Danielli, Crockett, Tindall, Thirlby, Barkley, Dalzell, D. Barnes, Long, Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock, G. Thomas, Scaysbrook, Lyle.

Replacements: Voyce for Barkley (58), Regan for Long (78), Emms for Mallett (52), N. Thomas for Scaysbrook (57).

Not Used: Chrystie, Cox, Gabey.

Tries: Voyce.

Pens: Barkley, Tindall.

Northampton: Beal, Brooks, Jorgensen, Leslie, Tucker, Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Stewart, Phillips, Brouzet, Blowers, Pountney, Seely.

Replacements: Cohen for Tucker (40), Malone for Dawson (79), Richmond for Thompson (58), Morris for Stewart (69), Soden for Seely (71).

Not Used: Brenton, Hepher.

Tries: Brooks, Richmond, Jorgensen.

Cons: Grayson.

Pens: Grayson 4.

Att: 8,200

Ref: Chris White (RFU).