Match Report: Bristol Bears 31-23 Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints were defeated 31-23 by Bristol Bears in the final clash of the first block of Gallagher Premiership matches, as two late Bristol scores put the game out of reach for a much-changed Saints side. 

Tom Pearson set Saints’ attack firing in the first half, assisting first George Hendy and then Josh Kemeny in the opening quarter. And those scores were coupled with eight points from George Makepeace-Cubitt’s boot on his Northampton debut to see Saints lead by four at the break. 

But despite sending James Ramm over at the death, a clinical Bristol side ensured the men in Black, Green and Gold went back to Northampton with no league points for their efforts – while tries from Gabriel Ibitoye, Joe Batley and a brace from Kalaveti Ravouvou sealed the bonus point for Bears. 

FIRST HALF:

Phil Dowson’s side produced a spirited early attack, working their way into Bristol’s 22 through some quick thinking by Tom James. And though that attack was halted by Bears’ defence, Saints stayed patient and eventually Makepeace-Cubitt was able to get them on the board with three points from the tee – his first in Black, Green and Gold.

Bristol thought they were over the tryline just after, but excellent work from Saints’ defence saw Steven Luatua’s effort held up by a resolute Rory Hutchinson. And Saints got themselves straight back on the attack, with another important Hutchinson intervention seeing the ball come loose in huge tackle from the Saints centre. 

Northampton pushed forwards with the advantage from the resulting Bears knock on and when Pearson crashed his way through Bristol’s defence, it was fullback Hendy who got onto his shoulder to take the offload. 

Saints were over the line again just three minutes later, when another rampaging run from Pearson saw the back rower break free and send the ball out wide to Kemeny for his second in Club colours and Saints’ second of the evening. 

But Bears got themselves onto the scoreboard twice in quick succession on the half-hour mark, first working into Saints’ terriory at pace to send Ibitoye over the tryline out on the right wing before centre Ravouvou cut a deft line through Saints’ midfield for Bristol’s second. 

Saints were over the tryline again before the half-time whistle, but though patient phase play got Curtis Langdon over the whitewash, the ball was deemed held up after a trip to the TMO and the try chalked off. 

Northampton would have the final say of the half though, as a high tackle on Henry Pollock gave Makepeace-Cubitt the chance to add another three points from the tee and send the teams into the changing rooms with the scoreline at 14-18 in Saints’ favour.

SECOND HALF:

Bristol thought they’d got the first points of the second half when MacGinty crossed the whitewash early doors, but excellent work from Saints’ winger Ramm saw the ball held over the line and more patient defence from Saints in the next phase paid dividends in the form of a Bears knock on. 

The home side did eventually did find a way through in the game’s 56th minute to put themselves back ahead, as a charging run from captain Luatua got play into Saints’ 22 before the ball came back the other way at pace to see Ravouvou over for his second.

Stalemate ensued at Ashton Gate for the next ten minutes as both sides thwarted each other’s attacks, and it was MacGinty’s boot that eventually broke the deadlock as he sent a penalty through the uprights to make it 24-18. 

And Bristol got straight back on the scoreboard after a series of offloads on the counter-attack saw Bears get into Saints’ territory quickly, and Batley over the tryline for their bonus-point score.

The men in Black, Green and Gold held firm as Bristol sent wave after wave of attack their way, Saints’ defence withstanding a passage of play that lasted almost five minutes in the game’s dying moments.

It was to be Northampton who had the final word of the second half as well as the first as Hutchinson provided a sensational assist, breaking through Bears’ line to send a beautiful looping pass over to Ramm out on the right for Saints’ third of the evening.

The men in Black, Green and Gold fought valiantly with the clock in the red to try to claim a losing bonus point but when the ball came loose at the lineout, Bears pounced and sent it into the stands the end the match. 

Saints’ attentions now shift to the upcoming Premiership Rugby Cup campaign, first welcoming Leicester Tigers to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday 1 November (kick-off: 7.45pm) – tickets are available priced from £21 adults* and £6 child by clicking HERE.

LINE-UPS:

Bears: 15 Lane, 14 Bates, 13 Ravouvou, 12 Janse van Rensburg, 11 Ibitoye, 10 MacGinty, 9 Marmion; 1 Woolmore, 2 Oghre, 3 Lahiff, 4 Dun, 5 Batley, 6 Luatua, 7 Grondona, 8 Harding (c).
Replacements: 16 Thacker, 17 Thomas, 18 Kloska, 19 Owen, 20 Heenan, 21 Wolstenholme, 22 Worsley, 23 Elizalde.

Saints: 15 Hendy, 14 Ramm, 13 Litchfield, 12 Hutchinson, 11 Seabrook, 10 Makepeace-Cubitt, 9 James; 1 West, 2 Langdon, 3 Millar Mills, 4 Mayanavanua, 5 Coles (c), 6 Kemeny, 7 Pearson, 8 Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Wright, 17 Iyogun, 18 Green, 19 Gavin Thornbury, 20 Scott-Young, 21 McParland, 22 Savala, 23 Garside.