Northampton Saints produced a spectacular attacking display to defeat Bath 71-48 at Franklin’s Gardens, securing the second-highest total of points in the history of the Gallagher Premiership. The chaotic encounter featured a record-breaking 18 tries, with the Saints bouncing back from their previous week’s loss to the Bristol Bears with overwhelming offensive force.
Ollie Sleightholme was the standout performer for the hosts, crossing the try line three times to complete a hat-trick. The match concluded with a combined tally of 119 points, eclipsing the previous competition record of 118 set during Richmond’s 106-12 victory over Bedford in 1999. However, it fell short of the all-time English top-flight record, which remains the 127 points shared in Northampton’s 94-33 rout of Bristol Bears earlier in the year.
The game opened with frantic energy as Northampton struck first after seven minutes through Fin Smith, though he missed the conversion. Bath responded immediately, with Finn Russell orchestrating swift attacks that saw Tom Carr-Smith and Charlie Griffin score, allowing Russell to take a 19-12 lead. The Saints answered before halftime through Tommy Freeman and a try by captain Fraser Dingwall, but Russell’s penalty just before the break gave Bath a narrow 29-26 advantage at the interval.
Bath extended their lead shortly after the restart when Carr-Smith set up Arthur Green for his second try of the afternoon. Northampton refused to yield, with James Pater and Santi Carreras both touching down to keep the scores level and then in front. Josh Kemeny added a seventh try for the Saints, and Sleightholme’s second effort pushed the hosts to 50 points.
The scoring continued to flow until the final whistle. Sleightholme completed his hat-trick, while Josh Bayliss scored a consolation for Bath. Alex Coles and a second try for Freeman rounded out the Northampton account, finishing with 11 tries in total. The team’s dominance was driven by rapid ball movement and opportunistic finishing across the pitch.
Sleightholme reflected on the high-scoring nature of the win, telling TNT Sports that while the team capitalized on their created opportunities, there is work to be done on their defensive solidity. He praised the atmosphere at Franklin’s Gardens, noting how loud the crowd was as he returned to action. The victory moves the Saints back into contention after their recent defeat, showcasing their ability to engage in high-tempo, multi-try contests.
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