Bath start Blackadder reign with Northampton Saints win

Bath began life under new Director of Rugby Todd Blackadder with an 14-18 victory over Northampton Saints at Franklins Gardens.

Bath’s victory may however come at a cost as new signing Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau left the field after just 12 minutes with a suspected medial knee ligament injury.

Northampton new South Africam scrumhalf signing Nic Groom crossed for the only two tries of the match but it was too late for the Saints.

All of Bath’s points came from England flyhalf George Ford who kicked four penalties and two drop goals.

Final Score Northampton Saints (0) 14 Bath (6) 18

Scorers

Northampton Saints
Tries – Groom 2
Pen –
Con –
Drop –

Bath
Tries –
Pen – Ford 4
Con –
Drop – Ford 2

Match Officials
Referee : JP Doyle (116th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Tim Wigglesworth & Ross Campbell.
TMO: David Sainsbury.

Teams

Northampton: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell; Tuala, Mallinder, Dickson; Waller, Hartley, Brookes, Lawes, Paterson, Wood (capt), Gibson, Picamoles.

Replacements: Clare, Ma’afu, Hill, Dickinson, Harrison, Groom, Myler, North.

Bath: Homer; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Clark, Banahan; Ford, Fotuali’i; Catt, Batty, Thomas, Ewels, Attwood, Garvey (c), Denton, Faletau.

Replacements: Dunn, Auterac, Palma-Newport, Sisi, Ellis, Cook, Priestland, Williams.