Northampton 24 Bath 6: Courtney Lawes inspires Saints to second home win in a week

Saints' Cortney Lawes is tackled by Bath's Taulupe Faletau
Saints' Courtney Lawes is tackled by Bath's Taulupe Faletau Credit:  David Rogers/Getty Images

Courtney Lawes ensured there was no winning farewell for Bath head coach Tabai Matson by inspiring Northampton to their second home win inside a week.

Lawes, captaining Northampton in the absence of the injured Dylan Hartley, led by splendid example, rampaging around the pitch on the blindside flank and scoring the first of their four tries.

“Courtney has been really good for us. He leads by example. He doesn’t say too much but what he says is very relevant and precise,” said Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder.

“Every single impact he does something positive whether it’s his carries or his defence or getting his timing right on opposition tens.

“I’m delighted with the way he is playing and the way he led the side in the absence of Dylan.”

Northampton were unrecognisable from the side humiliated by Saracens at Twickenham two weeks ago with the criticism that followed stinging Mallinder and his players.

Lock Dave Ribbans scored twice for Northampton
Lock David Ribbans scored twice for Northampton Credit: CameraSport

“It hurt. You remember what people say, certainly you read what people say and it hurts, it really hurts. It hurts the team and we needed a reaction. We got that last week and we have continued in that vein,” he said

“I think we have shown that when we get it right we are a difficult team to beat. We have still got little things we need to work on but winning at home is very very important.”

Northampton’s bonus point delighted Mallinder but the key to this win was their outstanding defence which nullified the threat of Bath’s in-form backs and denied Matson, who is returning to New Zealand for family reasons, victory in his final match.

“I have to give credit to Northampton. I thought they were outstanding, especially at the set piece” said Todd Blackadder, Bath’s director of rugby.

“In the first half we put them under a lot of pressure by keeping them in their half and try to force the mistakes but we weren’t able to capitalise.

George North
George North secures the bonus point Credit:  David Rogers/Getty Images

“In the second half they kept the pressure on our line out, they did a really good job there and kept beating us round the corners. They played to their strengths and we weren’t good enough tonight.”

Blackadder may have had no complaints about the result but he was unhappy that Bath were not allowed a replacement when Sam Underhill was concussed 12 minutes from time. Had Underhill, who made 23 tackles in an encouraging debut, required a head injury assessment, Bath would have been able to replace him.

“It’s a funny old law when you can’t replace someone because they are knocked out,” he said.

Underhill’s departure and an injury to Anthony Watson, who hobbled through most of the match with his right leg swaddled in strapping, hindered Bath but Northampton were good value for their win.

They were clinical at the line out from which they scored first half tries through Lawes and David Ribbans and relentless in the second half when Ribbans crashed over and George North secured the bonus point.

                                                                                                    

Full-time | Northampton 24-6 Bath

The hosts don't get to put an exclamation mark on their win, but that is an excellent performance.

Northampton 24-6 Bath, 80 minutes 

Saints win a scrum penalty and kick it to touch looking for their fifth try.

Man of the match

Ben Kay selects two-try David Ribbans as his man of the match. The lock has been excellent.

Credit: BT Sport

Northampton 24-6 Bath, 78 minutes 

"Nothing, 22 drop-out" says referee Tom Foley.  Bath will clear, wearily. 

Northampton 24-6 Bath, 78 minutes 

We're going to the TMO with approximately a million questions. Tom Collins sliced through and chipped over the top and Cobus Reinach could be over for a try...

Try, George North! Northampton 24-6 Bath, 75 minutes

Bonus point for Saints! They deserve it. The ball is slipped along the line after the forwards get close and George North gets over from Mallinder's pass. Mallinder then adds two more. This is amusing.

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 72 minutes

Bath on the ropes. George North storms through and Mallinder grubbers. Max Clark carries into  touch so Saints will come again.

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 69 minutes

Bath will play the rest of this game with 14 due to Underhill's injury. Saints win a penalty from the ensuing scrum and go to the corner in search of a bonus point. Mallinder grubbers through and Northampton think they have a try but the ball has spilled forward. Scrum to Bath.

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 67 minutes

A long delay here as Sam Underhill receives treatment. he'd just made two tackles in quick succession and was motionless for a long while. Thankfully, he sits up and will walk off the field.

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 66 minutes

Bath are pinned inside their own 22 again. Northampton's breakdown work has been superb this evening. The visitors have to clear from a scrum through Freddie Burns.

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 63 minutes

 It's getting a little bit frantic. Freddie Burns drops a high ball with his first touch but then Bath win a penalty and Allinson taps and goes. 

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 61 minutes

Bath in possession for a while but the Saints defence is comfortable. Eventually Jonathan Joseph threads through a grubber into touch.

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 58 minutes

Saints spill as they look to set up a lineout maul on halfway. It's a scrum to Bath. 

Northampton 17-6 Bath, 56 minutes

Northampton simply allow Bath to go through the phases and number up in defence. It's easy for them.

Match action

Space has been scarce for Jonathan Joseph tonight.

Credit:  CameraSport

Try, David Ribbans! Northampton 17-6 Bath, 52 minutes

It was coming. Courtney Lawes rose to nick a Bath lineout and Burrell made the killer burst. A few phases later and lock Ribbans shunts over from close range for his second. Mallinder cannot land the conversion.

Northampton 12-6 Bath, 50 minutes

Bath are hanging on here. Northampton flood into the 22 again - George North is having a prominent game. Nic Groom knocks on at the base of a breakdown and the Bath scrum wins a penalty. A huge relief for the visitors.

Waterboy

Dylan Hartley has been running water on for his teammates and generally keeping a buzz about the hosts.

Northampton 12-6 Bath, 47 minutes

Saints keep coming and enter the Bath 22 again. This time Mallinder's pass stops Luther Burrell and the centre spills.

Great shot

Northampton 12-6 Bath, 45 minutes

Saints do what they do best. They spoil a lineout maul and win a turnover.

Northampton 12-6 Bath, 43 minutes

Bath just finding themselves trapped in their own half here, but an Underhill hit gives them some impetus and Saints must recover a bouncing ball.

Northampton 12-6 Bath, 41 minutes

Nic Groom tries to snipe from the Saints lineout but spills after making a half-break. Scrum to Bath.

Second half 

Here we go again. Mallinder restarts the game. Jonathan Joseph takes on the bound and the left-footed Darren Allinson kicks to touch.

Summary

Sam Underhill is impressing everyone, but the hosts lead.

Around the grounds

It's also half-time at Sixways, where Exeter Chiefs are 24-3 up against Worcester. It's not quite half-time at the AJ Bell, but Sale are leading 24-0 against London Irish.

Half-time: Northampton 12-6 Bath

Harry Mallinder nails the conversion to end the first 40 minutes. It's been compelling, and Northampton are good value for that one-score advantage.

Try, David Ribbans! Northampton 10-6 Bath, 39 minutes

Powerful play from Saints. The maul, directed at the tail by Mikey Haywood...

Credit: BT Sport

 ...gets to within three and a pick and go from Ribbans does the rest.

Northampton 5-6 Bath, 37 minutes

Penalty tennis continues. Charlie Ewels takes Harry Mallinder high and now Saints have a lineout in the Bath 22...here rumbles a maul...

Northampton 5-6 Bath, 35 minutes

Bath spill from the lineout and now Northampton have a scrum penalty...and there are some handbags. Splendid.

Northampton 5-6 Bath, 34 minutes

The Northampton scrum is dismantled again. Ben Kay calls it a "real, real worry" on BT Sport commentary.

Priestland goes to the corner.

Match action

This has happened a fair bit. Sam Underhill steams into an offensive tackle.

Credit:  Getty Images

Penalty, Rhys Priestland!  Northampton 5-6 Bath, 32 minutes

Muscular shove from the Bath scrum and Priestland can add another three. Nice strike.

Northampton 5-3 Bath, 30 minutes

A couple of high-profile casualties for Bath. Kahan Fotuali'i goes off, replaced by Darren Allinson - that's a HIA. Then Matt Garvey goes off. Peter Grant is into the back row.

Penalty, Rhys Priestland! Northampton 5-3 Bath, 26 minutes

Hmm. That's lucky for Bath. Teimana Harrison gets up off the floor after a tackle - it didn't look like he was held - and is penalised. Priestland can get Bath on the board from around the 22.

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 24 minutes  

Bit of a scrappy period, so feast your eyes on Saints' try.

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 20 minutes  

Bath go through the phases and breach the Saints 22. However, Teimana Harrison then pilfers a clearn turnover. That was outstanding. Harry Mallinder clears to touch.

Interested observer

Credit: BT Sport

Two stand-outs so far

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 16 minutes  

Underhill helps to force a turnover and, although Saints recover, Mallinder's grubber is blocked. Bath stream through to win a penalty and they go to touch.

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 14 minutes  

Sam Underhill clobbers Tom Collins in midfield but Saints surge forward into the 22 through George North.

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 12 minutes  

A couple of cagey kicks exchanged and Bath can come again from a lineout around halfway. Saints' defence is excellent and they bully a breakdown penalty.

Worrying

We mentioned Anthony Watson was limping...

Credit: BT Sport

 He's staying on for now.

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 10 minutes  

First glimpse of Anthony Watson. He tries to release an offload but the ball just falls forward and limps away. He looks OK, thankfully.

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 7 minutes  

Interesting from Bath on their first meaningful possession. Priestland ping a high ball up onto Tom Collins and Jonathan Joseph races through to compete. The England centre spills, though.

Northampton 5-0 Bath, 6 minutes 

Saints clear directly to touch from outside their 22, so we come back for a Bath lineout. However, the hosts disrupt the maul and win a scrum.

All the emojis

Try, Courtney Lawes! Northampton 5-0 Bath, 4 minutes

Tom Collins is in sizzling form. Saints go to midfield from the lineout and then bounce back to the blindside. Collins drags in two defenders and flips an offload to Lawes, who stretches over close to the left touchline. Harry Mallinder's conversion is missed.

Northampton 0-0 Bath, 2 minutes

Northampton burst off the scrum and Tom Collins is released down the left. Jonathan Joseph comes across and makes a high tackle. Early penalty for Northampton...and they go to touch insode the Bath 22.

Northampton 0-0 Bath, 1 minute

The first throw of the game, from Bath hooker Tom Dunn, skews off the straight under pressure from Michael Paterson. 

Kick-off

The referee is Tom Foley, and he blows his whistle to start proceedings. Rhys Priestland kicks long to Rob Horne, who is hit in a robust tackle by Sam Underhill. Harry Mallinder clears to touch off the next phase so it's a Bath lineout.

Players out

We're awaiting both teams now....and here come Bath, led by skipper Matt Garvey.

Credit: BT Sport

 Saints, and skipper Courtney Lawes, are next.

Credit: BT Sport

Five minutes until kick-off

This should be a cracker. Hold tight.

Reaction

A reminder of what Luther Burrell said about Saints' performance against Tigers.

This quote is fantastic:

“When you come in on Monday morning and your coaches are fuming with you and calling you soft, ultimately as a player you have got to react”

Credit:  Getty Images

10 minutes until kick-off

Atmosphere building in the East Midlands. 

15 minutes until kick-off

The bookies make Saints slight favourites. Do you? What do you reckon? 

Todd Blackadder

"We know out away form has been poor. If we don't come out aggressive, the opening two wins have been for nothing."

Credit: BT Sport

No changes

As you were for the teams. No late changes.

Stand-in skipper

And from the back row as well. Courtney Lawes is in outstanding form.

Half an hour until kick-off

A reminder that there are two other fixtures tonight. London Irish have travelled to Sale and the champions, Exeter, are at Sixways to face Worcester.

Stat attack

Emma is well worth a follow for these nuggets.

 For me, Bath seem far more steely this season. 

Jim Mallinder

Can Saints maintain their momentum?

"We know how we need to play. Mentally and physically, we need to turn up"

Credit: BT Sport

Matt Banahan

Bath's left wing has been in outstanding form. According to him, the pitch feels fantastic as well.

There is a word on the exit of head coach Tabai Matson as well.

"He's left a massive mark on our squad, especially our backs. He's given people confidence to play. He'll be sorely missed, but he's left something that hopefully we can carry on for the rest of the season."

Credit: BT Sport

Pre-match insight

Telegraph columnist Austin Healey and the rest of the BT Sport team look forwards to the game here. You can check out the conditions in the East Midlands too. They look perfect.

Brain Moore

In beating Leicester, Northampton bounced back from an abject first half and a comprehensive thrashing on the opening weekend of the season. That performance was the subject of Brian Moore's column this week.

Credit:  Getty Images

Sam Underhill

This quick video, courtesy of the in-house media team at Bath, offers a bit of insight into the measured man Sam Underhill is. Even at the tender of 21, the openside appears considered and articulate. 

Analysis 

Earlier this week, we took a closer look at Bath's defence. It's been desperate - in a good way - and there have been plenty of excellent decisions under pressure.

Credit: BT Sport

Team news 

Jim Mallinder has been forced into a re-jig of his pack, with England skipper Dylan Hartley missing out due to a hand injury. His match-day 23 looks like this:

Northampton: 15. Ahsee Tuala, 14.George North, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Luther Burrell, 11. Tom Collins, 10. Harry Mallinder, 9. Nic Groom; 1. Alex Waller, 2. Mikey Haywood, 3. Paul Hill, 4. Michael Paterson, 5. David Ribbans, 6. Courtney Lawes, (captain), 7. Jamie Gibson, 8. Teimana Harrison
Replacements: 16. Reece Marshall, 17. Campese Ma’afu, 18. Kieran Brookes, 19. Christian Day, 20. Lewis Ludlam, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. James Grayson, 23. Ben Foden

Todd Blackadder has made a few changes up front as well. Note Luke Charteris is absent from the engine room. That could be a big loss.

Bath: 15. Anthony Watson, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Matt Banahan, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Kahn Fotuali’i; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Anthony Perenise, 4. Charlie Ewels, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Matt Garvey (captain), 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16. Jack Walker, 17. Nick Auterac, 18. Scott Andrews, 19. James Phillips, 20. Paul Grant, 21. Darren Allinson, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Max Clark

Hello

Hi there and welcome to our coverage of the third round of Premiership action. We're starting at Franklin's Gardens for what is probably the tie of the weekend.

The hosts arrive here tonight on the back of a comprehensive victory over Leicester Tigers in a one-sided East Midlands derby. Meanwhile, Bath knocked off the European champions last week.

Credit: PA
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