Claassens try double takes Bath back top of Guinness Premiership

Bath may have not been at their best but two second half tries from Michael Claassens ensured they finished 2008 leading the Guinness Premiership.

Steve Meehan's men made a catalogue of errors – Northampton were also guilty of several mistakes – after Matt Banahan's second minute try at a bitterly cold Recreation Ground on Saturday.

A bonus point victory seemed on the cards but Bath needed to pound the Northampton defence for long periods before crossing the whitewash twice during the second period to take advantage of London Irish's slip up at Saracens.

"I don't think we'll be overly pleased with our performance," said head coach Meehan.

"It was an improvement in certain areas by comparison to last week (when Bath won 24-20 against Sale) but it was not consistent enough.

"Individually there were some fine performances but we need to work on playing in twos and threes and on the smaller parts of our game.

"There was still some good open play, there was some good first phase play but there wasn't any continuity and we didn't take advantage of turnovers. It's those opportunities we need to take advantage of."

Bath's fans were slow getting to their seats ahead of this Christmas fixture – and any latecomers may have missed the first try of the afternoon.

Fly-half Butch James' quick thinking caught out Northampton when he switched play to the blindside, took on the isolated Saints wing Paul Diggin before grubbering ahead for Banahan to collect and stroll over in under two minutes.

James converted and he could have been celebrating a second try two minutes later but wing Joe Maddock held on despite the South African cutting through the visitors defence. Had that second try been scored, Northampton may as well have jumped back on the bus and headed north.

But, as the mistakes started to creep into Bath's game, the visitors saw an opportunity to stay in touch with two penalties from fly-half Stephen Myler.

They were cancelled out by James but the South African then almost gifted Northampton a try when his clearance kick was charged down by his fellow countryman Juandre Kruger.

The Springbok fly-half was saved by the speed of Maddock, who raced back ahead of Myler to touched down first and prevent the try.

Myler did reduce the deficit to four points three minutes after the break but Bath then set up camp on the Northampton line.

Lock Peter Short, Maddock, and centre Shontayne Hape went close in four minutes of sustained pressure before Claassens spotted a gap at the side of the ruck to go over.

Northampton refused to throw in the towel but we given a let off when Bath replacement second row Justin Harrison's try was disallowed for crossing on 70 minutes.

Bath did make the game safe with five minutes to go after James' thundering tackle on Saints No 8 Roger Wilson won a scrum for the home side.

And from the set piece, Claassens picked up from 20 metres out and had enough pace to keep the Northampton tacklers at bay. James converted to make it 25-9.

The Saints finished strongly and scored a consolation try with the final play of the match when Kruger, who looked offside, collected a Myler cross-field-kick to touch down.

Northampton may have had the final say but the packed Recreation Ground went home happy knowing Bath lead the English elite at the start of 2009.

Bath: J Cuthbert; J Maddock, A Crockett, S Hape (E Fuimaono-Sapolu 62), M Banahan (A Higgins 64); B James, M Claassens (S Bemand 77); D Flatman, L Mears (P Dixon 69), M Stevens (D Bell 77), S Hooper (J Harrison 69), P Short, A Beattie, M Lipman (capt), J Faamatuainu (D Browne 62).

Scorers: Tries – Banahan. Claassens 2. Cons – James 2. Pens – James 2.

Northampton Saints: B Reihana (capt); P Diggin, J Clarke, J Downey (C Spencer 72), S Lamont; S Myler, L Dickson (B Foden 56), S Tonga-uiha (T Smith 64), D Hartley, E Murray, I Fernandez-Lobbe (C Day 67), J Kruger, M Easter (M Hopley 72), S Gray, R Wilson. Reps not used: P Shields, C Mayor.

Scorers: Tries – Kruger. Pens – Myler 3.

Referee: A Small (London).

Att: 10,600.