Fin Smith shows England class to sink Bath at the last and save Saints’ season
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Fin Smith’s last-gasp penalty edged Northampton to a crucial victory over Bath, capped off an individual performance that will have Steve Borthwick purring before the Six Nations – and may just have saved Saints’ season. It was the final act of a mad-cap match that Northampton had led 19-0 before Bath came roaring back, only for Smith to take advantage of Sam Underhill’s transgression at the death. Bath outscored the hosts five tries to four but this was a match Northampton simply had to win if they are to maintain hopes of getting back into the playoffs. So much of Bath’s performance demonstrated why they are so hotly backed to go one better next season but on this occasion, just as in last season’s final, Northampton squeezed home.
![[Fin Smith kicks a conversion ]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c8773344272fc55d7e005e90fffe08554b40f209/0_0_5706_3910/master/5706.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Smith had a hand in all four of Northampton’s first-half tries, showcasing his full array of attacking talents. The first came inside two minutes and with a touch of fortune. Smith’s long pass just about made it to George Hendy, who gathered and set off on one of his mazy runs before flinging inside to Rory Hutchinson, who shipped on to Josh Kemeny to score.
It was a breathless start, in which Bath played their part, but Hendy threatened down the left again before the visitors lost Guy Pepper – one of their finest performers all season – to injury. Moments later Northampton were over for their second with Smith again the architect, gathering his chip ahead before Alex Mitchell put Fraser Dingwall over with a well-weighted pass.
Try No 3 came with just 13 minutes on the clock – James Ramm gathering the ball well inside his own half and arcing his run through the Bath line, then away from the covering defence and all the way to the line. If Bath were guilty of some shoddy defending – they missed 13 tackles in the opening 40 minutes – they continued to threaten in attack, however. Alfie Barbeary made frequent dents in the Northampton defence, giving Finn Russell the platform he craves and after Hutchinson made a mess of a restart, Joe Cokanasiga was soon over in the corner to give Bath a foothold.
