Bristol put leaders Saints to the sword

BRISTOL started where they left off before English club rugby went into hibernation with this crushing seven-try demolition of league leaders Northampton. 

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

The Bears scored eight tries and put 50 past Bath in their last game before the two-month lay-off and, with a resurgent Harry Randall setting the tone, are now attacking with an elan and panache that is hard to resist.

They were certainly too good for a Saints side that looked very rusty, albeit their England contingent were largely missing. They won’t be happy though, this was more like the flaky performances that marred last season.

Bristol made the quickest start with a charge down try by lock Joe Batley after promising England U20 scrum-half Archie McParland took too long over his kick.

McParland, making his first Premiership start, was greeted with a vicious little sleet storm in the opening minutes and confronted with a hard counter rucking Bristol pack that made life hell for the next 80 minutes.

He was lucky moments later when a pretty cynical looking tackle on Randall without the ball was treated leniently as Saints made a miserably poor start.