Rees-Zammit stars as Bristol power past Northampton

Bristol Bears edged past reigning champions Northampton Saints 34-26 in a pulsating Prem tussle at Ashton Gate. Louis Rees-Zammit scored a double as Bristol secured revenge for last season's 94-33 thrashing. Gabriel Oghre opened the scoring with a well-worked line-out move before George Hendy replied for Saints.

Rees-Zammit's close-range try made it 15-7, but Hendy's second try narrowed the gap to 15-14 at halftime. Tom Jordan and Harry Randall converted tries extended Bristol's lead to 29-14. Northampton fought back with tries from Alex Mitchell and Josh Kemeny to make it 34-26.

A penalty try, awarded after Tommy Freeman's cynical intervention denied Rees-Zammit a hat-trick, sealed the win. The match followed an emotional tribute to Jackie Booy, led by her husband and Bristol chairman Chris. Bristol's defence held firm in the closing stages to secure a second successive Prem victory.

Key players included Rees-Zammit, Oghre, Jordan, Randall, Williams, Hendy, Mitchell, Kemeny, and Freeman.