Bath 21-41 Northampton
Northampton Saints secured a convincing 41‑21 victory over Bath Rugby at the Recreation Ground on 27 December 2025, rising to the top of the Premiership table. Despite rotating several first-team players, Saints’ attacking precision and defensive solidity proved decisive.
Tommy Freeman, making his first Premiership start since October, scored a hat-trick, opening the scoring with a try in the 7th minute after an early, sustained Northampton attack. Freeman’s performance was instrumental in shifting momentum and keeping Bath on the back foot. “I’m lost for words,” Freeman said. “We wanted to take every chance and show our strength as a squad, and today it worked perfectly.”
Bath fought hard, with Thomas du Toit scoring twice and Tom Dunn adding a try, keeping the home side competitive until the middle of the second half. However, defensive lapses allowed Northampton to regain and maintain control.
Henry Pollock also left his mark, scoring two tries and celebrating one attempt with a playful “TMO signal” gesture that went viral, highlighting the match’s lighter, human moments amidst high-pressure competition. Three Northampton tries were disallowed following TMO review, but the team’s overall dominance never wavered.
Northampton’s squad depth shone, showing the ability to rotate without losing intensity, while Bath must reassess defensive consistency and tactical sharpness to recover in the second half of the season. The match reinforced Northampton’s credentials as serious Premiership contenders.
