Rugby / Bristol Bears
Match report: Northampton Saints 14-20 Bristol Bears
Two tries in two minutes from Henry Purdy and Lewis Thiede saw Bristol Bears fight back from 14-0 down to snatch a dramatic victory over Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens for the second successive season.
Trailing 11-0 at the break after Harry Mallinder’s first half score, Saints edged further ahead courtesy of James Grayson’s third penalty early in the second period.
But Pat Lam’s men sprung into life on the hour mark, as Purdy picked a beautiful line to score out wide after Piers O’Conor’s long-range break, with Callum Sheedy converting to go with his earlier penalty.
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The Bristol fly half was back in action almost immediately from the restart, dummying and breaking from deep, before Thiede powered over from close range to edge the visitors in front on 65 minutes.
Ian Madigan made it 20 unanswered points with an 80th-minute penalty, to send Bristol back into the Gallagher Premiership top four.
Photo by JMP
Read more: Match report: Bristol Bears 34-16 Gloucester
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