Saints pile on woe for Bristol

Clarke scores Northampton's third try

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Northampton maintained their unbeaten Guinness Premiership home record thanks to tries from Paul Diggin, Ben Foden and Jon Clarke.

Fly-half Stephen Myler also kicked 15 points for the hosts to help them to their fourth victory over Bristol this season, following two wins in the European Challenge Cup and one in the EDF Energy Cup.

But this result will probably hurt most for the visitors, who remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Meanwhile, Northampton stay just clear of the relegation scrap and will surely not be dragged into it with their impressive home form.

The pressure on both clubs was evident in a nervy, disjointed first half where neither side really threatened until Diggin finally struck.

Hooker Dylan Hartley, watched by England scrum coach Graham Rowntree, had a try disallowed when referee Tim Wigglesworth brought him back for a disputed earlier knock-on.

But Bristol were penalised at the resulting scrum and Myler kicked Northampton ahead with a more difficult penalty than the earlier one he had missed.

Three minutes later Diggin produced an excellent burst of speed to exploit weaknesses in the Bristol defence and score the opening try for Northampton.

Scrum-half Lee Dickson fed Foden, preferred at full-back with club captain Bruce Reihana consigned to the bench, and with fast hands released Diggin, who showed a clean pair of heels on his 50 metre dash to the line after centre Luke Eves missed his tackle.

Ambitious

Myler increased the lead to 13-0 with a 37th minute penalty after stand-in skipper Shaun Perry, going for an ambitious interception, was somewhat harshly punished for a deliberate knock-on.

Hartley, up against England's 2007 World Cup hooker Mark Regan, did his international prospects no harm as he attempts a Six Nations challenge to Bath's current England No 1 Lee Mears.

Myler's third penalty, in the 48th minute, put Northampton 16 points clear.

Bristol were caught offside when Scotland winger Sean Lamont took a tap penalty after being the victim of a high tackle by former Wales second row Robert Sidoli, and the former rugby league fly-half confidently booted over the kick from 40-plus metres.

The latest blow seemed to spark the visitors to life and the pressure paid off when Saints conceded a penalty in front of their own posts and Barnes finally opened Bristol's account in the 50th minute.

Held up

They spurned a penalty opportunity in favour of a lineout in the corner before replacement Nathan Brew - brother of Neil - was held up inches short of the line, but an infringement at the resulting ruck cost Bristol their momentum.

Saints retaliated to wrap up the match when Foden broke through three tackles on a tremendous 40-metre diagonal run through the Bristol defence to touch down near the posts in the 73rd minute, with Myler converting.

They struck again in the final minute when poor defending allowed centre Clarke in for their third try, with Myler again adding the kick.

With seconds remaining, impressive Bristol left-wing David Lemi kicked ahead and won the chase for a consolation try for the visitors.