Bath Triumphs Over Northampton in Thrilling Champions Cup Showdown 43-41
Northampton faced heartbreak as they missed out on an Investec Champions Cup semi-final for the third consecutive season, falling to Bath in a thrilling match that ended 43-41. The clash, held at the Recreation Ground, featured a remarkable 11 tries, showcasing the attacking prowess of both teams. The decisive moment came when Ted Hill scored a try, converted by Finn Russell, just three minutes before the final whistle. This pivotal play occurred shortly after Henry Pollock, Northampton's standout player, received a yellow card, leaving his team with only 14 players on the field. Key highlights from the match included: Northampton scored five first-half tries, with contributions from Pollock, Fraser Dingwall, Tom Lockett, Josh Kemeny, and Ollie Sleightholme, all successfully converted by Fin Smith. Bath responded with tries from Hill, Kepu Tuipulotu, Finn Russell, Henry Arundell, Francois van Wyk, and Tom Dunn, with Russell converting five and adding a penalty. The game started explosively, with Pollock breaking through for an early try, quickly followed by another from Dingwall, putting Bath on the back foot. Despite trailing, Bath found their rhythm and ended the first half with a staggering nine tries between both teams, with the score at 35-26 in favor of Northampton. As the second half unfolded, Northampton maintained a 12-point lead, but Bath's resilience shone through. After JJ van der Mescht was sin-binned, Bath seized the opportunity, with Tuipulotu scoring and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. In a nail-biting conclusion, Smith and Russell exchanged penalties before Hill's late try sealed Bath's victory, ensuring their progression in the tournament.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-04-10