Bath fell to a 6-26 home defeat at the hands of Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership this evening.
The visitors started very strongly, immediately putting Bath under pressure in the scrum.
The hosts gave away a number of penalties from the Saints' five-metre scrum, eventually resulting in a penalty try being awarded, which was duly converted by Ryan Lamb.
Lamb and Stephen Donald exchanged penalties for the rest of the half, with Lamb also adding a drop-goal to the mix as the sides went into the break at 16-6.
Bath began the second half like a different team, pushing for a try that would get them right back into the game and looking like much the better side, but Northampton's defence stayed strong against the persistent waves of Bath attacks.
Lamb added another three points 15 minutes into the half to extend the Saints' lead before Bath were reduced to 14 men, Guy Mercer being sent to the sin bin.
Northampton took immediate advantage of the extra man, driving on from a line-out to score their second try of the match. The conversion was successful to make the score 6-26.
Bath continued to push for a try, but the visitor's defence refused to give in.
The result puts Northampton fourth in the Premiership table, while Bath remain in eighth place.
Barney Corkhill
