Northampton beat leaders Bath in epic encounter

Gallagher Premiership

Northampton (29) 35

Tries: Kemeny, Dingwall, Ramm, Hendy Cons: Smith (3) Pens: Smith (3)

Bath (19) 34

Tries: Cokanasiga (2), Bailey, Stuart, Ojomoh Cons: Russell (3) Pens: Russell

Reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints defeated existent leaders Bath 35-34 with the last footwear of the crippled successful a sensational lucifer astatine Franklin's Gardens.

In a repetition of past season's Premiership final, Saints piled connected the unit successful a breathless archetypal fractional with aboriginal tries from Josh Kemeny, skipper Fraser Dingwall and James Ramm.

Joe Cokanasiga and Orlando Bailey responded for Bath earlier George Hendy got Saints' 4th score.

The visitors came backmost into the lucifer with tries from Will Stuart, Max Ojomoh and a 2nd from Cokanasiga earlier a last-minute punishment from Finn Smith sealed the triumph for the hosts.

Bath stay top, six points up of Bristol, portion Northampton enactment eighth, 15 points wide of next-to-bottom Exeter.

More to follow.

Northampton: Hendy; Freeman, Dingwall (capt), Hutchinson, Ramm; Smith, Mitchell; West, Langdon, Davison; Mayanavanua, Coles, Kemeny, Pearson, Augustus.

Replacements: Walker, Haffar, Green, Lockett, Pollock, Scott-Young, McParland, Seabrook.

Yellow Card: Mitchell

Bath: Bailey; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Muir; Russell, Spencer (capt); Obano, Dunn, Stuart; Roux, Molony, Pepper, Reid, Barbeary.

Replacements: Tuipulotu, van Wyk, du Toit, Ewels, Underhill, Schreuder, Bayliss, Coetzee.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe