It may seem rather early to talk about tries of the season, but Bruce
Reihana's score to round off a magnificent opening-day performance from
Northampton is sure to be in the running next May.
The New Zealander, player of the year in the Zurich Premiership last season,
finished off a move which began behind Northampton's own line and encapsulated
everything that set the Saints apart from last year's table-toppers.
Already leading 22-9, Northampton absorbed wave after wave of Bath pressure
before turning the ball over on their own line and mounting a counter-attack the
length of the field.
After first-half tries from debutant wingers Wylie Human and John Rudd, plus a
score from Mark Tucker, Reihana's touchdown followed magnificent work from Mark
Schterbina and earned Northampton the victory they fully deserved.
All Bath could muster in the face of Northampton's fast-moving pressure
defence were three penalties from fly-half Chris Malone and a late consolation
try for flanker Andy Beattie.
It was only 13 weeks ago that Bath were in the Zurich Premiership Grand Final
at Twickenham, where they lost a titanic encounter 10-6 to Wasps.
They were without Ollie Barkley and Mike Tindall because of limits
imposed on selection by the Rugby Football Union's Elite Player Scheme, the programme at the heart of Sir Clive Woodward's discontent with
English rugby.
Meanwhile, Franklin's Gardens during the summer was more reminiscent of the
Heathrow arrivals hall after a flight from Cape Town as the Saints recruited
three former Springboks.
Former South Africa assistant coach Alan Solomons signed new captain Corne
Krige and lock Selbourne Boome from the Stormers and brought prop Robbie Kempson
with him from Ulster.
All three made their Premiership debuts among seven new faces in the
Northampton starting XV, bolstering a pack which had been shaky last season.
After a minute's silence, as a mark of respect for the lives lost in the
hostage crisis in Russia this past week, the new season got off to a rip-roaring
start.
England's defensive coach Phil Larder was on hand to witness a tight,
fractious opening which remained scoreless for 17 minutes until Paul Grayson
landed a 40-metre penalty to give Northampton the lead.
Bath lock Steve Borthwick, limited to just 40 minutes by the EPS, was fortunate to escape a sin-binning
when he appeared to pull Boome down in the lineout. Not for the first time in
the half.
Northampton's quick-moving defence would have pleased Larder and when
Borthwick turned the ball over on the half-hour mark, Mark Robinson burst round
the fringes and timed a perfect pass for Human to scoot over in the corner.
Rudd, who scored twice in the victory over Edinburgh last week, then burst 55
metres down the right for a score which was converted by Grayson.
He was later named man of the match for his try, a stunning try-saving tackle
just before half-time and a key role in Reihana's grandstand try.
Malone's third penalty reduced the arrears to 15-9, and Solomons, who had
already replaced Human with England's Ben Cohen at the interval, looked to his
bench again as Grayson made way for Shane Drahm at fly-half.
After excellent work from Robinson to disrupt the Bath scrum, Drahm swept up
the loose ball and fed it to Cohen who charged 40 metres and worked the opening
for Tucker.
Drahm then converted as Northampton, having sapped Bath's thrusts forward,
opened a 22-9 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
The Saints were then forced onto their own line but held Bath at bay through
three five-metre scrums before Isaac Feunati drove for the line and was turned
over.
Schterbina, Saints' Australia A centre, ran the ball out of his own try
area and six passes later Reihana was on hand to dive over the line.
It was an exhilarating break down the length of the field as Schterbina found
Tucker who then got possession back from Reihana.
Rudd charged for the line and when halted just short he popped the ball up to
Reihana and the New Zealander dived over to bring the packed house at Franklin's
Gardens to their feet.
Teams:
Northampton: Reihana, Rudd, Tucker, Stcherbina, Human, Grayson,
Robinson, Smith, Thompson, Kempson, Boome, Browne, Blowers,
Krige, Seely.
Replacements: Howard for Stcherbina (60), Cohen for Human (40),
Drahm for Grayson (55), Morris for Kempson (65),
Lord for Browne (47), Fox for Seely (55).
Not Used: Richmond.
Tries: Human, Rudd, Tucker, Reihana.
Cons: Grayson, Drahm 2.
Pens: Grayson.
Bath: Perry, Crockett, Fleck, Davey, Daniel, Malone, Wood,
Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman,
Fea'unati.
Replacements: Maddock for Perry (70), Walshe for Wood (76),
Stevens for Barnes (33), Mears for Humphreys (51),
Fidler for Borthwick (40), Scaysbrook for Lipman (32),
Delve for Fea'unati (70).
Tries: Beattie.
Pens: Malone 3.
Att: 12,027
Ref: C White (England).
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