Northampton stayed in touch the leading trio in the Aviva Premiership standings with a 26-6 win over Bath at the Rec on Saturday.
Ryan Lamb kicked 14 points as Northampton cruised to a comfortable victory.
Bath were looking for their first win in three following consecutive defeats to Leicester and Harlequins, while Northampton were looking to build on last week's 32-15 victory over Wasps.
Chances were difficult to come by during a tight first ten minutes but the deadlock was broken shortly after, when Northampton were awarded a penalty try following persistent infringements at the scrum.
Lamb added the conversion and on 25 minutes booted his side further ahead when he struck a penalty goal.
But indiscipline from the visitors cost them a large percentage of their lead, as Stephen Donald landed two quickfire penalty goals to make it 10-6.
However, Northampton had the final say in the first period, courtesy of a Lamb drop goal and penalty.
The visitors held a ten-point lead as the second-half got under way and were able to not only defend their lead, but also add to it courtesy of their second try of the afternoon and another penalty from Lamb.
The try came in the 63rd minute when Andy Long managed to ground the ball following a determined drive over the Bath try-line straight from the line-out.
The score came shortly after Lamb's third penalty of the afternoon, but it was substitute Stephen Myler on target with the extras on this occasion.
The hosts had failed to make the right impression in this match, and the contest was as good as over, but they did enjoy the lion's share of possession and territory in the final stages.
But Northampton held their line well and prevented Bath getting over for the consolation try that their efforts perhaps deserved.
The scorers:
For Bath:
Pens: Donald 2
For Northampton:
Tries: Penalty try, Long
Cons: Lamb, Myler
Pens: Lamb 3
Drop: Lamb
Yellow cards: Sorenson (Saints - 47th min); Mercer (Bath - 60th min)
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Matt Carraro, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Michael Claassens (capt), 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Carl Fearns, 6 Ben Skirving, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 David Wilson, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Duncan Bell, 19 Josh Ovens, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Mark McMillan, 22 Sam Vesty, 23 Jack Cuthbert.
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 George Pisi, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson (capt), 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 James Craig, 5 Christian Day, 4 Mark Sorenson, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Andy Long, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Teimana Harrison, 20 James Ingle, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Tom May.
Venue: Recreation Ground
Referee: Martin Fox
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle, Andrew Pearce
Television match official: Geoffrey Warren
Comments
Jediboy says...
APV1 - I agree with many of your points.
I look at Bath and cant work out where it's going wrong. Big club, proud history and I really though Geech would be a huge benefit. But sometimes it just doesn't work.
As a Saints fan I have seen the clubs ups and (literally) downs. But things pick up again, and I'm sure they will with Bath.
Posted 00:35 03rd April 2012
APV1 says...
Well played Saints - there wasn't a single part of the game where you didn't dominate. I think our 1/2 time oranges were fresher, but can't be sure..!
We're woefully short of where we should be, considering the cash being spent of the club. I thought last season was for development and this for the start of the results. But it seems we're going to keep "developing" for a little while longer..?!
When is SIM's magic going to shine through? I understand that each "pack" can only have one "top dog", hence SM leaving (what a great shame that was), and Brucey has great ambitions, but we're suffering at the moment. On the back of poor results players leave and it's harder to attract the cream. But also sponsorship suffers, so there's less cash to play with. And the spiral can start.
We're better than this and need some results to prove it.
Posted 11:00 02nd April 2012
papachinzo says...
How is Donald an All Black?? worst pro half back I've ever seen.
Posted 16:50 01st April 2012
Jediboy says...
Mujati looks really happy in that photo.
Well done Saints
Posted 16:17 01st April 2012
Hazza69 says...
Part 1.
Firstly Harlequins Game : Why on Earth was Banahan dropped from the squad??? Leave him on the wing and DON'T put him in the centre's. He was widely known for his cross-field kick catches and scoring having a height advantage and weighing in at 110 kg. He is also better off at his hard hits when attacking and defending in this position. In other words, less of this off loading play where he can make more yards.
Secondly Northampton Game : Olly Barkley, Bath's biggest asset at kicking for goal should ALWAYS be in the mix where ever possible un-like leaving all kicking duties to Donald (who has been out for 7 weeks) without any quality back-up kickers on the pitch (eg Heathcote & Barkley). Barkley should not have been dropped.
Forwards : Flatman, excellent player but every time (this season) he goes in for a scrum, he doesn't bind and leans on his own leg for support. Unless he's injured he should be able to hold himself up for a bind. Nathan Catt...hello...did anyone see the determination and passion in that blokes eyes. That is what all Bath players should have, Desire, Passion and Determination. Again we see this in Mercer but you can see his passion coming out in frustration which is unfortunately giving away penalties, furthermore with Josh Ovens whom I went to school with and is not being able to see enough Premiership game time. Losing the likes of Louw and Moody is also a great blow who have epic leadership skills. The forwards have to sort out there lineouts too, with two awesome 2nd rows (Caldwell & Attwood), in addition follow Louw and Mercer's footsteps and CONTEST the ball around the breakdown.
Posted 11:21 01st April 2012
Hazza69 says...
Part 2
Backs : Donald gets criticised but he seems to be the only one putting any sort of imgination into breaking down the opposition's line. Yes, a lot of things he tried didn't work but at least he's bleedin trying. Like I said, Barkley should be the goal kicker Donald reserve...and get that ball out across to Banahan and Biggs by boot or hands. Dan Hipkiss along with the rest of the backs would be way better off with some direction of actual moves to draw in the defence as well as own initiative.
I can't figure Mc Geechan out what so ever, but, why did Steve Meehan leave as coach you have to ask yourself?? He knew those players like the back of his hand and my guess is that he didn't like Mc Geechan's coaching changes, which is what we are seeing now. Did he leave or was he pushed out?? Bruce Craig, spend your money wisely on getting Steve Meehan back and stop wasting it on "big name" Ian Mc Geechan.
What do other people think??
Posted 11:19 01st April 2012
maria14 says...
HAHA bath are a joke :)
Posted 22:28 31st March 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
have to agree @ruckman every game I've seen this season its been a specific deficiency thats lest us down - today we managed to include all of them in one game.
Donald just isn't working at 10 and, given that half of the AB public didn't seem particularly distressed to see the back of him, you worry that the pursuit of a name rather than a player was the overriding objective. SIM wouldn't be drawn pre-match as to whether Donald would have played if Heathcote was fit, which kind of answers the question anyway.
Its frustrating the hell out of me that we seem to have capable tight 5 players but never seem able to get them all on the park at the same time to have scrum and lineout dismantled so easily is a huge worry.
This season is gone now, nothing left to play for, my worry is that players who we want to keep may well start looking at their contracts when they come up for renewal
Posted 20:59 31st March 2012
ruckman says...
Total pants from Bath - I feel sorry for the likes of Abendanon and co, who tried to take the game to the Saints - but our scrum predicatably let us down very badly, and nothing will change unless we recruit better for the future - as for Donald, I hope his contract is short term- he's geeting overpaid whatever he receives.
Posted 19:55 31st March 2012