Bristol secured their first home victory of the season with a hard-fought bonus-point win against a significantly altered Northampton team. The match saw Bristol triumph 31-23.
Northampton got off to a strong start, with George Hendy and Josh Kemeny scoring to give the Saints a 15-0 advantage within the first 20 minutes. However, Bristol responded quickly, with Kalaveti Ravouvou and Gabriel Ibitoye each finding the try line, bringing the Bears back into contention.
Ravouvou notched his second try, giving Bristol a slim lead, and Joe Batley sealed the game with their fourth try ten minutes before the final whistle. Although James Ramm managed to score for Northampton in the final minute, it was too late for the visitors to turn the tide, marking their sixth straight defeat in the Premiership away from home.
This win also signifies Bristol’s fourth consecutive victory over Northampton and extends their lead at the top of the league, now ten points ahead of their rivals. Northampton, missing several key players due to international commitments, made ten changes for the match. Despite their struggles, they capitalized on Bristol’s mistakes during the first half.
George Makepeace-Cubitt, making his debut, kicked a penalty to open the scoring, as Bristol struggled with errors. Northampton quickly made the most of the situation, scoring two tries within a three-minute span. Tom Pearson assisted Hendy for the first try, and shortly after, Kemeny benefitted from a two-on-one situation to extend their lead.
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