Sleightholme hat-trick leads Northampton to 71-48 win over Bath

Northampton beat Bath 71-48 in an 18-try match on Saturday, with Ollie Sleightholme scoring a hat-trick and Tommy Freeman adding two tries for the defending Prem champions. According to the Guardian’s match report, the teams’ combined 119 points made it the second-highest scoring game in the league’s history, behind Northampton’s 94-33 victory over Bristol in May.

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Saints finished with 11 tries, while Bath crossed seven times but still lost by 23 points. The eventual margin followed a contest in which both sides repeatedly regained the advantage before Northampton pulled away. Fin Smith and Finn Russell each helped create opportunities, with the report recording 69 defenders beaten across the 80 minutes.

Smith opened the scoring by breaking through a gap, but Bath answered through Tom Carr-Smith after Russell offloaded to Arthur Green. Charlie Griffin then scored on the left for the visitors. Sleightholme supplied a Northampton response, and Freeman also crossed after Bath flanker Josh Bayliss received a yellow card, giving Saints another opening in a rapidly changing first half.

Bath fought back with Kepu Tuipulotu involved in two important passages. His work at the breakdown won a penalty, from which Russell kicked to touch before Archie Griffin scored. Tuipulotu subsequently broke through two tackles and passed to Green for another try. Northampton answered again when Dingwall used a dummy to find his way over the line.

The scoring continued immediately after the interval, with each team registering two tries inside the opening 11 minutes of the second half. Green crossed for Bath before James Pater capitalised on a spilled pass by Santi Carreras. Carreras then scored himself, while Josh Kemeny went over for Northampton to keep the contest close.

Alex Mitchell’s breakaway try put Northampton back in front at 45-41. Sleightholme then finished a move started by Freeman deep in Saints territory, extending the home side’s advantage. With Ollie Lawrence sent to the sin-bin, Sleightholme added another try to complete his hat-trick. Bayliss scored for Bath, but further tries from Alex Coles and Freeman ensured Northampton finished comfortably clear.