A crucial losing bonus point was what Northampton Saints took away from their second clash with Union Bordeaux-Bégles in as many seasons, with the reigning champions taking the spoils in Round 3 of this season’s Investec Champions Cup.
Saints shot out to an early lead with a sublime effort from Henry Pollock after just ten minutes, but from there it was all the home side before the break as Bordeaux built up a 17-point lead at half-time.
Bordeaux scored a quick brace before Northampton could send Tommy Freeman over for their second after the restart, ahead of another pair of Bordeaux scores that were sandwiched by Pollock’s second.
And while Saints would have the final word through Danilo Fischetti’s bonus-point close-ranger, the hosts had already done enough to take the 50-28 win.
FIRST HALF
A huge defensive set was Saints’ first job of the afternoon at Stade Chaban-Delmas, with five minutes of pressure from the hosts coming early doors before a timely rip from Pollock allowed Alex Mitchell to clear Saints’ lines.
But Bordeaux got themselves straight back on the attack and thought they’d scored from close-range when Jean-Luc Du Preez stretched over, but the TMO intervened and deemed the flanker’s reach just short.
Bordeaux kept the pressure on though and eventually got their score, when Salesi Rayasi rounded the corner on the right to start the scoring.
Martin Page-Relo’s conversion went wide and Saints were soon level. A moment of brilliance saw Anthony Belleau send a perfectly weighted crossfield kick to Pollock on the right which the No. 8 gathered before sending a chip of his own over Bordeaux’s line. Both he and Ollie Sleightholme went off in chase, and it was the British & Irish Lion who got to the bouncing ball first and scored under the posts, to ringing boos from the home crowd.
Belleau’s conversion put Northampton two points ahead but a string of scrum penalties saw Fischetti shown a yellow card by referee Gianluca Gnecchi just after and the home side made their extra man count three minutes into the sin bin period, sending Rayasi over on the right again.
Life got harder for Saints in the game’s 25th minute when Rory Hutchinson was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle. Northampton survived the three minutes they were down to 13 men, but the home side’s score came just after Saints went back up to 14, with Page-Relo sniping around a breakdown and sprinting in to score Bordeaux’s third.
A broken field became Bordeaux’s hunting ground again ten minutes later; a turnover on halfway saw the home side back on the attack, before the ball came wide to Damian Penaud, with the winger racing forwards before popping the ball inside to Cameron Woki for his first of three.
Hutchinson returned to the field just after but the score would remain 24-7 in the home side’s favour at the break.
SECOND HALF
Bordeaux started the second half in earnest, first sending Rayasi snaking through Saints’ line before Woki intercepted a Northampton pass and ran in to score his second – with Page-Relo converted both to make it 38-7.
Saints thought they’d scored through Coles when a drive from replacement lock Ed Prowse got them front foot ball. A trip to TMO chalked that effort off but awarded Northampton a penalty as Bordeaux were deemed to be holding on; from there the penalty was tapped quickly and after the forwards got Northampton close, it was Freeman that went jinking over.
But the home side hit straight back, with Woki diving on loose ball at the restart and charging over the whitewash. And Bordeaux brought up a half century of points on the hour mark, when more loose ball allowed Mattieu Jalibert to pounce and run in unopposed.
Saints’ persistence did eventually pay dividends, and when Hutchinson sent a hack through for Pollock to chase, it was the Northampton No. 8 who won the foot race to the ball for Saints’ third.
With the try bonus point in their sights, Northampton remained on the attack and when another penalty was quickly tapped, space opened up for Fischetti to wrestle over and grab the all-important fourth score.
Belleau made a clean sweep from the tee with his conversion to make it 50-28 with three minutes to play and though Saints stemmed Bordeaux’s final attack with a crucial turnover, they knocked the ball on a phase later and the full-time whistle was blown.
Saints’ Investec Champions Cup campaign rumbles on next weekend as they play host to Scarlets at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday (18 January, kick-off: 3.15pm).
LINE-UPS
Bordeaux: 15 Rayasi, 14 Penaud, 13 Deportere, 12 Moefana, 11 Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Jalibert, 9 Page-Relo; 1 Poirot, 2 Lamothe (c), 3 Sadie, 4 Coleman, 5 Cazeaux, 6 Du Preez, 7 Woki, 8 Matiu.
Replacements: 16 Barlot, 17 Perchaud, 18 Tameifuna, 19 Palu, 20 Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Retière, 22 Carbery, 23 Janse Van Rensburg.
Saints: 15 Hendy, 14 Todaro, 13 Freeman, 12 Hutchinson, 11 Sleightholme, 10 Belleau, 9 Mitchell; 1 Fischetti, 2 Wright, 3 Davisonl, 4 Coles, 5 Van Der Mescht, 6 Chick (c), 7 Pearson, 8 Pollock.
Replacements: 16 R Smith, 17 Iyogun, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Prowse, 20 Munga, 21 Graham, 22 McParland, 23 Thame.