Rees-Zammit double helps Bristol beat Northampton at Ashton Gate

Louis Rees-Zammit scored two tries as Bristol Bears beat reigning champions Northampton Saints at Ashton Gate on Saturday, securing their second successive Prem victory. BBC Sport reported that a penalty try in the closing seconds settled the contest after Northampton had threatened a second-half comeback. Rees-Zammit was denied a third try by an intervention from Saints full-back Tommy Freeman that led to the penalty award.

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Bristol took the lead in the sixth minute through Gabriel Oghre, who finished a move built around a line-out and maul. Northampton answered through George Hendy after a pass from captain Fraser Dingwall created the opening. A James Williams penalty then restored Bristol's advantage. The hosts subsequently had a score disallowed because Harry Randall had knocked on earlier in the move.

Rees-Zammit crossed from close range to put Bristol 15-7 ahead, but Hendy also completed a first-half double. Fin Smith's pass sent the Northampton winger over to leave the visitors only a point behind at the break. The teams had scored two tries apiece, with Bristol holding a 15-14 lead after a closely contested opening half.

The Bears created more separation after the restart. Tom Jordan reached over for a try and Williams converted to make it 22-14. Northampton then had a try ruled out for obstruction before Randall forced his way over near the posts. The conversion extended Bristol's lead to 29-14, giving the home side more room after their narrow half-time advantage.

Northampton responded with tries from Alex Mitchell and Josh Kemeny in a four-minute spell. Mitchell finished beneath the posts after Dingwall found Hendy, who supplied the inside pass. Kemeny's score helped bring Saints within eight points at 34-26. Bristol nevertheless kept the visitors out in the closing stages before the late penalty try added a final seven points to their total.

The win followed a very different meeting between the clubs last season, when Northampton beat Bristol 94-33. Saints had also scored nine tries against Newcastle in their previous outing, but their attacking recovery at Ashton Gate was not enough to overturn Bristol's lead. The Bears combined scores from their forwards and backs with the late defensive resistance needed to complete another league victory.