Hopes high for Foden

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder hopes England wing Ben Foden did not suffer a broken ankle in the victory over Bath.

Injury may not be as bad as first feared

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder hopes England wing Ben Foden did not suffer a broken ankle in the victory over Bath. Foden was injured in a somewhat innocuous-looking challenge early in the second half of his side's 18-14 victory over Bath at the Rec on Friday night. The international left the field in severe pain but the early prognosis suggests the injury may not be too serious. "It's an ankle injury but I don't know a lot more about it than that," Mallinder said. "The doctor thinks that it's not broken. We're hopeful it's just a strain." Mallinder acknowledged his team did not have things their own way in the narrow victory over their hosts. "Bath have a good line-out and got stuck into ours," he added. "But any win away from home is pleasing. "In terms of performance we're still not playing as we want. We've got a run of two home games coming up though and after a short turn-around - Sunday to Friday - to get the win is pleasing." It was Bath's first defeat of the season despite taking the lead in the first minute through Nick Abendanon. Skills coach Brad Davis said: "Our overriding feeling is one of massive disappointment. It was a match of two halves as far as our kicking game was concerned. "To be brutally honest, Northampton deserved to win the match. But Abendanon was outstanding, brilliant."