Northampton Saints beat Bath 71-48 in 18-try match

Northampton Saints beat Bath 71-48 in a Gallagher PREM match on October 10, scoring 11 tries in a contest that produced 18 tries and 119 points. The result came in round three of the competition and, according to the match report, the points total was the second-highest in league history. The match swung sharply after halftime. Bath led 36-26 after Arthur Green scored just after the break, but Saints moved back in front through Alex Mitchell’s try in the 56th minute and held the lead for the rest of the game. The report described Mitchell’s score, which followed a break from a scrum, as the decisive moment. Ollie Sleightholme scored three tries for Saints. The match report credited the winger with 101 metres and nine defenders beaten, and said each try came through a different attacking move. Tommy Freeman and Alex Coles also scored twice, while Fin Smith opened the scoring for Saints. Bath mounted a strong challenge despite the defeat. Santi Carreras scored twice, as did Green, who made 16 carries, the most by any player in the match. Finn Russell helped direct Bath’s attack, and the report highlighted his passing and a quick penalty that contributed to a try.