Saints rely on home comforts

Northampton maintained their 100 per cent home record with a 33-18 victory over Bath.

Northampton maintained their 100 per cent home record, running in four tries in a 33-18 victory over Bath.

The game emphasised just how difficult it is for the 'middle ranking' sides to win on the road in the Premiership - Bath have one win to their name so far, but almost inevitably it arrived at the Rec.

Saints ran in tries from Tom Smith, Sean Lamont, Robbie Kydd and Carlos Spencer - and although Bath finished both halves strongly - with tries from Andrew Higgins and Michael Stephenson - Northampton dominated the majority of the contest.

Bath were a shadow of the side that demolished Leicester last week once prop Tom Smith powered over for the first Northampton try on 25 minutes.

The try arrived after three Bruce Reihana penalties had set the platform for Saints, Olly Barkley replying with one for Bath.

Lamont made the break down the right and Smith was driven over by the forwards from the subsequent line-out.

Kydd set up the next try for Lamont on 37 minutes with a brilliant piece of work, bursting down the right then passing out of the back of the hand to send the Scotsman trotting over for his third try in as many games.

Bath skipper Zak Feaunati returned from the sin-bin for killing a ruck and briefly rallied his side, flipping Barkley's cross-field kick back in field for Higgins to cross on the stroke of half-time.

When Barkley slotted a penalty early in the second half, a comeback looked on, but former All-Black fly-half Spencer quickly snuffed that out.

Spencer broke 30 yards and set up Kydd, who still had plenty of work to do to break a tackle and score.

Spencer then claimed a try of his own beneath the sticks 11 minutes from time after Reihana's mazy run and the game was won.

Inevitably, Northampton's intensity dropped off in the closing stages and concerted Bath pressure created a try for Stephenson in the corner.

And Northampton should even have had the last word as Ben Cohen attempted to break away with time expired, only for Danny Grewcock to impede him, the England lock earning a yellow card for his trouble.