Bristol 14 Northampton 13: Tries from Dan Ward-Smith and replacement Luke Eves gave Bristol their first Guinness Premiership victory of the season as they held on to beat Northampton at the Memorial Stadium.

Bristol trailed 13-7 before Eves' late score – and then had a nervous final few minutes before Stephen Myler missed a drop goal with the last kick of the match.

Richard Hill and his players had targeted this game after a prolonged period of preparation – and their hard work was rewarded with a hard-fought victory.

Bristol, who went into the match without a league win since March – a run spanning 11 matches, fell behind to a Myler penalty but were soon in front.

They kicked a penalty to touch, secured the line-out ball and drove Northampton back, with Ward-Smith scrambling over to score.

The try typified Bristol's determination to move off the bottom of the table – and they led 7-3 when Adrian Jarvis' scuffed conversion somehow went over.

But their lead lasted only two minutes, with Saints breaking up-field through James Downey, who then supplied the finishing touch to the move by going over from close range. Myler's conversion saw Northampton go 10-7 up.

Bristol had their chances to hit back and were unfortunate not to score after Tom Arscott's purposeful break, but David Lemi and Vunga Lilo could not combine in the corner.

They also failed to take advantage when Arscott was tripped and they won a penalty, winning the close-range line-out but being unable to find a way past the Saints defence for a second first-half try.

The second period took a long time to warm up, with both sides – particularly Bristol – making elementary errors in a fractious contest.

Myler registered the first points of the period with a penalty which put his side 13-7 up – and Bristol appeared devoid of ideas in attack.

But Shaun Perry's introduction from the bench for his first appearance of the season after shoulder surgery breathed new life into the home side – and minutes after Hill sent on three forward replacements his side were in front.

They built a decent platform by winning line-out ball – and a gap somehow appeared for replacement centre Eves to sprint through to score.

Ed Barnes kept his cool to kick Bristol into the lead and set up a frantic final 10 minutes.

Lemi, so often Bristol's hero in attack, turned defensive saviour in the dying minutes when he forced the ball out of winger Chris Ashton's hands as he prepared to pass to his supporting runner, who have had a clear run to the line.

Bristol: V Lilo (M Turner 58); T Arscott, N Brew, E Barnes, D Lemi; A Jarvis (L Eves 58), G Beveridge (S Perry 53); A Clarke, M Regan (S Linklater 71), J Hobson (D Crompton 71), R Winters, R Sidoli, A To'oala (I Grieve 71), J El Abd (capt), D Ward-Smith. Rep not used: M Sambucetti.

Scorers: Tries – Ward-Smith, Eves. Cons – Jarvis, Barnes.

Northampton Saints: B Foden; C Ashton, C Mayor, J Downey, B Reihana (capt); S Myler, L Dickson; T Smith (S Tanga'uiha 57), P Shields (J Gray 71), B Stewart, I Fernandez Lobbe, C Day, M Hopley (J Kruger 57), M Easter, R Wilson. Reps not used: C Lawes, A Dickens, C Spencer, N Mordt.

Scorers: Try – Downey. Con – Myler. Pens – Myler (2).

Referee: D Richards. Att: 6,310.