Full-time: Bath 25 Northampton 14

Full-time: Bath 25 Northampton 14

Bath Rugby reclaimed top spot in the Guinness Premiership after overcoming a well marshalled Northampton Saints defence on Saturday at the Recreation Ground.

They scored a try in under two minutes when wing Matt Banahan crossed but they needed two second-half tries from scrum-half Michael Claassens to seal the four points.

Bath are now a point ahead of London Irish who lost 16-13 earlier in the afternoon at Saracens.

Bath were ahead in under two minutes when wing Matt Banahan collected his fourth try in three matches.

But the winger owed his latest touchdown to the quick thinking of fly-half Butch James, who spotted the Saints short of defenders on the blindside before grubbering ahead for Banahan to stroll over. James converted.

Stephen Myler and James took the scores to 13-6 after they landed two penalties each by 23 minutes.

Bath escaped four minutes later when Juandre Kruger charged down James’ attempted clearance and home wing Joe Maddock touched down seconds ahead of Myler.

The hosts could have extended their lead on the stroke of half time but Jack Cuthbert’s long-range penalty fell well short of the uprights.

Myler narrowed the deficit with a penalty three minutes after half time.

But Bath crossed for the second time in the match on 54 minutes. The home side had enjoyed four minutes of pressure on the Saints line before scrum-half Michael Claassens darted over. James missed the conversion but Bath led 18-9.

Bath had a try disallowed with 10 minutes to go when replacement lock Justin Harrison went over but was penalised for crossing with No 8 Daniel Browne.

But Steve Meehan’s side did grab the try their dominance deserved after James delivered a smashing tackle on Saints No 8 Roger Wilson.

And from the resulting scrum, Claassens went over, running in from 20 metres out. James converted.

Northampton did claim a consolation try on the final whistle when Juandre Kruger went over after a neat cross-field-kick from Myler. 

Bath Rugby: 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).

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), 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.

Referee: A Small (London).