Rees-Zammit stars as Bristol power past Northampton

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: 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.