Rees-Zammit double inspires Bristol to 41-26 bonus-point win over champions Northampton

Louis Rees-Zammit scored two tries to power Bristol Bears to a 41-26 bonus-point victory over Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints at Ashton Gate on Saturday, with head coach Pat Lam singling out the Wales wing as the decisive force in a commanding home performance.

Rees-Zammit, who also crossed twice in Bristol’s opening win over Sale Sharks, is now four tries deep into the new Premiership season. Lam was effusive in his praise after the match, highlighting the 23-year-old’s instinct in front of the try line. “He is sharp, you know, and he loves finishing,” Lam said. “We know that if we can give him time and space, he is lethal. He is back on the wing, and most importantly that is where he wants to be.”

The result carried added significance for Lam, whose side conceded 94 points at Northampton in May. The Bristol head coach revealed he watched that defeat five times during the summer and used it as the foundation for pre-season preparation. “I watched that game five times and although it hurt, I watched it and built the whole pre-season around that in a sense,” he said.

Beyond Rees-Zammit’s contributions, Harry Randall, Gabriel Oghre, Tom Jordan and a penalty try rounded out Bristol’s scoring, with James Williams converting three and adding a penalty. Northampton, who trailed by just a point at half-time, were in contention for much of the contest but ultimately finished with 13 men after yellow cards for Tommy Freeman and Ion Neculai. George Hendy scored twice for the visitors, with further tries from Alex Mitchell and Josh Kemeny, while Fin Smith kicked three conversions.

Bristol captain Fitz Harding was also highlighted by Northampton rugby director Phil Dowson as a key figure in the defeat. “Fitz Harding was exceptional, and they won that battle,” Dowson said, referring to the breakdown contest across an estimated 200 rucks. “Frustration is the over-riding emotion. We just didn’t execute anything to the level like we can. There were loads of bright spots and we played some decent rugby at times, just not enough. And there was some dumb stuff in there which we need to eradicate.”

Northampton have not won a Premiership match at Ashton Gate since 2021. Bristol will also take encouragement from the news that England centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg, who was carried off after a midfield collision in the first half, was able to watch the second half from the touchline.