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Gallagher-Prime Minister
Northampton Saints Player Ratings: Northampton Saints suffered their first defeat of the Gallagher PREM season as Bristol The Bears pulled away to win 41-26 at Ashton Gate.
Saints produced flashes of the attacking rugby that made them so dangerous last season, particularly through George Hendy, while Henry Pollock was heavily involved on both sides of the ball. But they struggled to break down Bristol through conventional phase play, their line out of order and two late yellow cards ensured there would be no definitive comeback.
15 Tommy Freeman – 5
I never really fit into the running back competition despite 10 carries, a line break and three tackles for loss. He struggled to impose himself before his afternoon ended badly when he took out Louis Rees-Zammit after the Welshman had lunged forward, resulting in a yellow card and a penalty try.
14 Ollie Sleightholme – 4
Tough afternoon. He helped the ball under almost no pressure when the effort looked set to go on after 18 minutes, then caught Rubiol high soon after. He conceded three penalties in total before being substituted after 53 minutes.
13 Rory Hutchinson – 6
There were some nice attacking moments, including a long pass to help Kemeny break through late on and a pull to Pollock for Hendy’s first try, but his defensive numbers were costly. He missed four tackles – the most of any player – with six successful attempts and failed to consistently unlock Bristol’s midfield.
12 Fraser Dingwall – 7
One of Northampton’s more effective defenders. Put Hendy through the tiniest of gaps for the break that resulted in Mitchell’s goal and later helped Kemeny’s try. He added 11 tackles and a turnover, though three defensive lapses took some of the shine off his display.
11 George Handy – 8
Northampton’s outstanding attacking player. Scored twice, made four line breaks and beat five defenders before limping off. His penetration and inside pass set up Mitchell’s score after the break, spurning the chance to chase his own hat-trick in favor of a better option.
10 Finn Smith – 7
He produced an excellent wide pass to free Hendy for his second try and battled tirelessly, finishing with 15 tackles completed. His tee shot was largely reliable until a crucial missed conversion after Kemeny’s score left Northampton more than a try behind.
9 Archie McParland – 6
They struggled to give Northampton the pace they needed against an organized Bristol defence. Carried five times and beat a defender but was replaced by Mitchell after 53 minutes and Saints noticeably accelerated once England The scrum-half entered the competition.
1 Emmanuel Iyogun – 6
A valuable shift of 49 minutes before Fischetti replaced him. He carried seven times and completed nine tackles, giving Northampton a steady presence in the open during a relatively even first half.
2 Curtis Langdon – 5
He worked hard down the field, making 10 tackles and beating two defenders from his five carries, but Northampton’s line was only 82 percent efficient during his time on the field. He was also penalized for pulling Oghre off the ball in a move when Coles went through.
3 Cleopas sees me – 6
Made 13 tackles in an intense defensive performance and initially left the field shortly after the break before returning late when Pollock left. He offered Northampton plenty of work around the park without much impact on the competition.
4 Alex Coles – 7
He almost scored after Pollock’s break and offload, only for a superb intervention by Rees-Zammit to eventually clear the ball over the line. He made line breaks and 12 tackles, although two penalties prevented him from building on those positive contributions.
5 Ed Prowse – 7
One of Northampton’s most productive strikers. He finished with 16 tackles, second only to Pollock among Saints players, while carrying seven times and beating a defender. A strong individual result despite Bristol eventually winning the forward battle.
6 Josh Kemeny – 7
He produced a strong finish for Northampton’s fourth try, slotting home from a wide pass from Hutchinson. His 10 tackles resulted in five defender tackles – a best for Northampton – and he remained a willing ball carrier throughout despite Bristol’s defensive pressure.
7 Josh Taylor – 6
A busy outing before being substituted shortly after half-time. Carried seven times and made eight plays during his 49 minutes, providing plenty of energy without creating the key breakdown moments that Bristol managed at the other end.
8 Henry Pollock – 7
Involved in a lot – good and bad. His one-handed collection during a clever loop helped Hendy’s opening try, while he later won a huge turnover penalty inches from his own line and broke through to set Coles free. He led the match with 16 disposals and 20 tackles, but three penalties awarded – including a needless foul in his own 22 – prevented a higher mark.
Substitutions – 7
Alex Mitchell stood out comfortably, immediately upping Northampton’s tempo, scoring a try and forcing another yellow card opportunity with a quick strike. James Pater also scored from a thunderous 50:22, but there were also bad performances from the bench, and Ion Neculai received a yellow card late on.
