Northampton 30 Bristol 17: Iain Grieve came of age in the defeat at Northampton – but he insists there is more to come after he scours through the match video this week, writes Matt Cain.

The Botswana-born back row forward signed for Bristol aged 14, but, following a succession of injuries, including shoulder reconstruction surgery, had to wait until the back end of last season to make his club debut.

A hamstring problem had kept him sidelined this term but he wasted no time in his first start in 2008-09, making some bone shuddering tackles.

But Grieve is his own worst critic as he strives to improve and claim a place in Bristol's starting XV in the Guinness Premiership.

The 21-year-old said: "I did make a couple of errors. I have to be harsh on myself. I could have held the ball a lot better.

"After looking at the video I will know what I need to improve and take it from there. I like to be harsh on myself otherwise I won't feel that I'm improving.

"I just want to make myself a better player. I did try to get my name known as this is my first game back."

Head coach Richard Hill was delighted with the former Colston's pupil, who played in the same school side as full internationals Shane Geraghty, Tom Varndell (both England), Warren Fury (Wales), while Jordan Crane and Ryan Davis have also played in the Premiership.

"Grieve was outstanding today. He had been out for three to four weeks injured but he has come back and put that performance in. He is going to be a good player," added the Bristol boss.

Grieve was heavily involved as Bristol made the perfect start on three minutes.

The visitors kept the ball well for numerous phases, looking to punch holes in the Saints defence, before Lee Robinson came off his wing and off-loaded for Matt Turner to take two Northampton tacklers over the line with him.

The lead didn't last long. Bristol fell foul of the new sealing off the tackle clampdown and from the resulting line-out Northampton created a three on one overlap for full-back Paul Diggin to score.

Bristol gained a deserved second try on 24 minutes, full-back Vunga Lilo grubbering through for Turner to touch down.

But again, Bristol could not hold onto their lead. The Saints this time launched an attack from their own 22.

Turner got back to bring Diggin to ground but couldn't prevent the offload to lock Matt Lord, who then raced forward and sent a speculative pass to Lee Dickson.

Luke Eves tackled Dickson three metres short but couldn't hold on and the half back made a final lunge to the line.

Barry Everitt kicked Saints in front on 40 minutes but then Nigel Owens started refereeing by the letter of the law.

Having already warned Bristol for persistent infringing, he showed no sympathy to Bristol lock Robert Sidoli, who was yellow carded when holding onto possession two metres inside his own half.

It got worse for Bristol after the restart when they were reduced to 13 men following Kevin Maggs' sin binning for offside.

Bristol thought they had repelled the danger but a wayward Robinson kick for touch brought the pressure back on the visitors and Ashton touched down, Everitt converting.

Sidoli returned from the sidelines but with Maggs pacing the touchline, Northampton made sure of the win when centre Chris Mayor crossed on 55 minutes, Everitt converting the bonus point try.

Owens wasn't finished with his cards.

He dispatched Saints replacement hooker Joe Gray – again another harsh decision – to the sin bin for not rolling away on 62 minutes.

Bristol prop Mark Irish and Saints' Ben Broster were both yellow carded after the scrum collapsed three minutes later.

But the visitors, who were forced to put on prop Alex Clarke when the scrums had gone uncontested, added one more try with Sidoli sending out a pass for Lilo to touch down, Chris Ashwin adding the conversion.

Everitt sealed Saints success in second half injury time when kicking a penalty.

Liam Neale knocked on when trying to ground the ball and Everitt was off-target with a drop goal.