Northampton Saints vs Bath Rugby

Ribbans is on the wrong side attempting the clear out and Priestland kicks the penalty into the corner for Bath.

One offload too many for Saints and it's been a common theme during the second half. Bath win a scrum penalty and clear to halfway.

High tackle from Bath and Biggar to the corner again.

Good restart from Biggar and Bath knock-on. Saints now earn the ball off their own scrum and are looking for a way through.

Josh Matavesi sprays a kick to Saints' 22 and the hosts are pegged back. Tonks is off for an HIA so Sam Matavesi moves to flanker and Fish returns.

Lovely set-up from Saints to get Naiyaravoro over the gainline, but as Lawes looks to offload it is loose again and Bath have the scrum. Ratuniyarawa makes way for Bean.

Bath go offside after Collins makes a burst up the right. Biggar kicks to touch and Saints are into the red zone again.

After a water break, Tom Collins is sent on in place of Tommy Freeman.

Matavesi's conversion attempt from the left touchline is just short. Sam Matavesi, his brother, enters the action for Fish.

Bath might have scored in the corner as De Glanville goes over in the left. TMO having a look.

Here comes Hutchinson, replacing Francis. Can he bring the spark Saints need?

Franks and Auterac make way for Painter and van Wyk for Saints, as Mercer knocks on and Northampton reclaim possession.

Penalty to Bath at the scrum and Matavesi finds touch to relieve the pressure.

Ratuniyarawa knocks on inches short and it's another let off for Bath. Saints will be gutted with that one, so close for the hosts. Bath meanwhile have unloaded their bench.

Ribbans tries a quick-tap penalty but is called back by the referee. Biggar into the corner again and Saints drive towards the line.

More pressure from Saints as Auterac carries and Walker infringes. Northampton kick for the corner again...

Brilliant first-phase attack from Saints as Francis goes out the back and Naiyaravoro goes clear! Freeman does well to stay in play and earns a lineout off the Bath defender.

Lawes wins another crucial penalty after the touch judge misses a clearly forward pass from Bath. Saints are able to clear their lines and have a lineout on halfway.

Both sides exchanging kicks but Tuala wins the battle as De Glanville cannot beat the ball to touch.

One minute left in the half and time for one final Saints attack here as they disrupt a maul and effect a turnover...

What an offload from Fish and Saints are on the charge again with Harrison! The No.8 runs over a defender but he tries another offload and the ball goes loose. Bath scrum on their own 5m line.

Brilliant counter-attack from Northampton Saints and it's fireworks from Ace Tuala!! Offloading and footwork lights up the Gardens turf, and Naiyaravoro is almost away to score down the right but Matavesi makes a key tackle and Big T's attempted offload squirts into touch.

Lovely break from Taylor but as he looked to offload Redpath knocks it backwards and Bath reclaim possession. Unlucky for Saints but Tonks puts some pressure on at the breakdown.

Really promising position now for Saints as Matavesi slices a kick out after a good chase from Freeman. Lineout finds Ribbans and here come Northampton...

Northampton look to play from deep but are forced into touch. Redpath lets Saints off the hook by dropping the ball under no pressure and the hosts have a scrum just inside their own half.

From all of 45m away, Biggar's kick is agonisingly short! Tonks returns from the sin bin however and we're back to 15 vs 15.

Fish's lineout is mistimed and Bath snaffle up the loose ball but miss touch and Tuala runs it back. Bath don't roll and it's another penalty for the hosts. Biggar calls for the tee...

Penalty advantage Saints from the lineout and Biggar looks for Naiyaravoro with a crossfield kick. It doesn't come off so we come back for the original offence and Biggar sends the ball into the corner.

Bath running a move but Dingwall flies out of the line and smashes Matavesi! Great defence from the young centre!!

Bath huffing and puffing but Saints' defence is resolute on this occasion, and when Naiyaravoro's hand knocks on in a tackle, we have a water break.

15 mins gone here then and still no points on the board yet. Both teams have had chances but nothing stuck just yet. Harrison hits Mercer hard and we have a break in play.

Brilliant counter drive however from Saints at the maul and they make a mess of it! Chudley is under pressure and his poor pass brings a knock-on from Matavesi, so Saints reclaim possession.

Penalty Bath as Rokoduguni is hit high by Francis and Tonks. Another opportunity here for Bath.

Knock-on from Bath under pressure from Freeman and Saints earn a scrum inside their own 22. Still scoreless here.

Rokoduguni steals the ball from the base of a ruck and Bath now in a promising position 10m out after they advance up the field.

Saints get to five metres out but Mercer gets over the ball and wins a penalty for Bath. Promising start for Northampton however and they look to apply some pressure to Bath's lineout.

Saints building some phases and look secure with ball in hand. Biggar gathers his own up and under before Tonks accelerates up the right! Saints looking very fluid here...

A second Saints turnover slips through Lawes' fingers but the England international makes amends with a superb turnover over the ball. Taylor clears and de Glanville is smashed by Freeman and Lawes is there again to win a penalty!

Ridley misses a clear offside from Bath as Taylor boxes, and the visitors are able to clear to touch but Saints take the lineout cleanly.

We're underway here at the Gardens as Josh Matavesi kicks off for Bath!

Here they come then and kick-off is just moments away! COYS!!

And here's tonight's opponents, who have won just once in their last 18 visits to the Gardens...

BATH: Glanville, Rokoduguni, Clark,  Redpath, Hamer-Webb, Matavesi, Chudley; Obano, Walker, Judge, Spencer, Stooke, Williams, Bayliss, Mercer 

Replacements: Dunn, Boyce, Stuart, Ewels, Reid, Spencer, Priestland, McConnochie

Let's remind ourselves of Saints' starting line-up...

SAINTS: Tuala, Freeman, Dingwall, Francis, Naiyaravoro, Biggar, Taylor; Auterac, Fish, Franks, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa, Lawes, Tonks, Harrison

Replacements: Matavesi, van Wyk, Painter, Bean, Uru, James, Hutchinson, Collins

Saints have made wholesale changes to their line-up from Sunday's win over London Irish at the Stoop, with 15 fresh faces in the starting XV. Harry Mallinder has failed a late fitness test so Tommy Freeman comes onto the wing to make his league debut and Ahsee Tuala switches to fullback. That makes room for Tom Collins to come onto the bench and he will wear the No.23 jersey.

Good evening and a very warm welcome back to Franklin's Gardens for tonight's Gallagher Premiership clash between Northampton Saints and Bath. We've got PERFECT conditions here for rugby, with clear summer skies and hardly a breath of wind around the ground.