Northampton………………. 43pts
Tries: Freeman 20, 47, 68, E Waller 28, Davison 35, Langdon 55, Seabrook 66 Conversions: Smith 21, 28, 48, 69
Bath ……………………………… 42pts
Tries: Dunn 2, Hill 13, Ojomoh 16, de Glanville 23, 46, Underhill 39, Conversions: Spencer 2, 13, 16, 23, 39, 46
TEAMS
SAINTS: Furbank (c) 7; Ramm 8 (Seabrook 64, 7), Dingwall 8, Hutchinson 6 (Thame 49, 6), Freeman 9; F Smith 7, James 8; Iyogun 5 (E Waller 3, 8), R Smith 6 (Langdon 49, 7), Davison 7 (Hill 61, 6); Coles 7, Munga 7 (Moon 49, 7); Pearson 7 (Lockett 49, 7), Pollock 7, Scott-Young 7 BATH: Gallagher 7 (Francis 64, 6); Cokanasiga 7, Ojomoh 8, Butt 7, de Glanville 8; Bailey 7, Spencer (c) 8 (Schreuder 61, 6); Obano 7 (Schoeman 55, 5), Dunn 8 (Annett 55, 5), du Toit 7 (Jonker 55, 5); Roux 7 (van Velze 55, 5), Ewels 7; Hill 8, Underhill 8 (Al-Kareem 74, 5), Reid 7
REF: ATTENDANCE: Anthony Woodthorpe 10,356
Star man Tommy Freeman – Northampton
SAINTS director of rugby Phil Dowson was ‘really shocked' by his side's firsthalf showing against Bath.
And though he praised the ‘character' they showed during a stunning second-half comeback, he admits he has plenty of work to do before the Gallagher Premiership opener at Sale Sharks on October 15.
The Saints fell 42-19 down before surging back to secure a thrilling 43-42 Premiership Rugby Cup win, with Tommy Freeman's special hat-trick try 10 minutes from time and Fin Smith's nerveless conversion putting Bath to bed.
And Dowson, who had lost Sam Graham and Juarno Augustus to injury before the game and Manny Iyogun during it, said: “How we started as a playing group and a coaching group, we know that's not acceptable. We didn't seem present and we had a disappointing first half. We showed lots of character to come back, but first half we were very, very disappointing.
“I'm really shocked because that's not really been on the cards during pre-season. We've had great energy, we've had cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens. The vis- great enthusiasm and I didn't see much of that iting pack was on top as during the first half. Tom Dunn rumbled over “We got bullied in the from a lineout drive before Ted Hill added to the first half, we got rolled over and I'm going to try tally as he too showed have to work out where his strength from close that's come from and range. make sure it doesn't happen again.” through the Saints de- Max Ojomoh walked Bath were left to reflect fence to help make it 21-0 on what might have been before Freeman finally as they had initially overpowered their hosts at running with a try set up got the Saints up and by George Furbank, who was making his 100th Northampton appearance.
Tom de Glanville cruised in for Bath's bonus-point score before Ethan Waller went over under the posts for the Saints.
Trevor Davison scored his first Northampton try before Sam Underhill made the most of Bath kicking another penalty to the corner.
Bath extended their lead in the second half as de Glanville made the most of a good bounce that deceived Furbank and James Ramm.
But Northampton came flying back as Freeman went over before Curtis Langdon peeled away from a maul to score.
Seabrook finished off a slick effort and then it was left to Freeman to have the final say with a stunning try that he started from inside his own half, kicking ahead before grounding the ball.
Smith's conversion completed the job as the Saints led for the first time in the match.
Bath head coach Johann van Graan said: “I think the first 20 minutes was some of the best rugby we have played in 14 months since I have been here. We had front-foot ball, set-piece dominance, we were getting over the gainline and scored a good variety of tries.
“I was very happy with the attack but if you give Northampton so many ins you are going to struggle defensively. It was their second hit out with their first choice team so well done to them.”
