Rees-Zammit stars as Bristol power past Northampton

The Prem

Bristol (15) 41

Tries: Oghre, Rees-Zammit 2, Jordan, Randall, Penalty Cons: Williams 3 Pens: Williams

Northampton (14) 26

Tries: Hendy 2, Mitchell, Kemeny Cons: F. Smith 3

Louis Rees-Zammit scored a double as Bristol Bears edged past reigning champions Northampton Saints in a pulsating Prem tussle at Ashton Gate.

Although defences were on top in the first half and chances were limited, the tactical battle and ruthless finishing provided great entertainment as they ran in two tries apiece.

Gabriel Oghre opened the scoring for the hosts following a well-worked line-out move and maul before George Hendy crossed in the corner.

And, after Rees-Zammit's clinical close-range score, Hendy went over again to leave the match finely poised at 15-14 in Bristol's favour at the break.

Unanswered, converted tries from Tom Jordan and Harry Randall gave Bears significant breathing space at 29-14, only for two tries in four minutes from Alex Mitchell and Josh Kemeny to get Saints back in the game at 34-26.

But Bears managed to blunt the Saints attack in the closing stages and sealed the win in the final seconds with a penalty try, awarded after a cynical intervention by Saints full-back Tommy Freeman denied Rees-Zammit a hat-trick.

Following an emotional tribute and minute's applause for Jackie Booy, who died last month, led by her husband and Bristol chairmen Chris, Bears set about marking the occasion in fitting fashion with a stylish display that combined, brilliant defence and scintillating attack.

Oghre's set-piece score gave Bears, who were unceremoniously thrashed 94-33 by Saints last season, a sixth-minute lead that was soon wiped out by Hendy's dart to the corner following a fine set-piece move and pass by captain Fraser Dingwall.

A James Williams penalty restored the lead for the Bears, who then had a sumptuous score ruled out, Randall knocking on in the build up to AJ MacGinty's fine cross kick after great work by Rees-Zammit on the right.

However, Bristol speedster Rees-Zammit's next contribution counted, the winger skipping home into the corner from close range to put his side 15-7 to the good.

But, after a lengthy delay following a nasty looking head injury to Bristol's new England international Benhard Janse van Rensburg, the visitors reduced the half-time deficit to a point when Smith's perfectly timed pass out wide allowed Hendy to double his and his side's first-half try tally.

Thankfully, Janse van Rensburg was up and walking around during the break, but his absence did not knock Bears out of their stride on their way to a second successive Prem victory this season.

Tom Jordan stretched over to touch down for the third home try soon after the restart and Williams slotted his third kick of the afternoon to make it 22-14.

A third Saints try was then disallowed following an obstruction, and the sniping Randall then bundled over for a converted try near the posts to further extend the home side's advantage after the Saints defence were sucked in to keep the Bears at bay on the line.

Northampton's quality in attack, showcased so stylishly in their nine-try mauling of Newcastle last time out, could not be contained for long with two tries in four minutes putting them within eight points of their hosts.

A slick move saw Dingwall feed Hendy, who selflessly teed up Mitchell on the inside to go under the posts and Kemeny's try put the visitors within eight points.

Bristol showed no signs of panic as their defence held firm impressively to close out a victory sealed with a last-gasp penalty try.

Bristol director rugby Pat Lam told BBC Radio Bristol:

"We are very pleased. It's more evidence for the players of the unseen work they are putting in.

"We always get recognised for the tries but finally the forwards are getting some recognition for the work they do up front.

"We really challenged their ball carriers and speed of ruck.

"We had a moment when they were coming back but we turned that tide. I am really proud of these guys because we had a physical game against Sale last week. For the boys to through it again - against the champions at full strength - is massive

"We are disappointed to give them a bonus point but we are pleased we didn't give them a second bonus point."

Bristol director rugby Phil Dowson told BBC Radio Northampton:

"It's very disappointing. We can't seem to get it right at Ashton Gate. We weren't good enough in lots of facets of our game. That's a really good indication of where we are at the moment.

"Bristol were excellent. They worked really hard at the breakdown and we didn't deal with it.

"It's early in the season and that tells us where we need to train. The game doesn't lie. We are not firing on all cylinders in some aspects.

"But we don't get too high after a win or too low after a loss. We must learn as quickly as possible so we can get better."

Bristol: Jordan; Rees-Zammit, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty, Randall; Woolmore, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Luatua, Grondona, Harding (capt).

Replacements: Gwilliam, Chawatama, Halliwell, Taylor, Owen, Marmion, Pepper Ivanishvili.

Northampton: Freeman; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Dingwall (capt), Hendy; Smith McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Kundiona, Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Taylor, Pollock.

Replacements: Smith, Fischetti, Neculai, Lockett, Chick, Mitchell, Belleau, Pater.

Sin bin: Neculai (74), Freeman (80)

Referee: Ian Tempest