While Northampton may struggle to take anything like their strongest squad to Italy because of injuries, Bristol head coach Richard Hill will maintain his policy of using his second-team squad for this second-tier competition. “All that matters for us is the league,” said Hill.
Within just eight minutes, Northampton had already snapped up two tries from their flanker Sam Harding and a third after 24 minutes by Carlos Spencer, in abrasive and confident mood, created a foundation which was never challenged.
But not until the 25th minute of the second half did Northampton score again when the effect of replacement wing Johnny Howard, who arrived at the end of the first half, began to emerge.
Howard is a scrum-half of searing pace, but having been sent to the wing he then set up a try for Mark Robinson, another for Ben Cohen, and then scored himself as he fastened on to a cross-kick from Spencer and left everyone trailing in his wake. Northampton paid a price in injuries, especially in terms of contributing to the Six Nations championship. Scotland wing Sean Lamont and England hooker Steve Thompson did not finish the course, and neither did Luke Myring at centre. Viadana might not be a daunting prospect for Northampton, but in the longer term their many injuries might be a concern.
Bristol showed some fighting spirit by registering a try after 78 minutes through Mariano Sambucetti, Vaughan Going leading an attack on the right before a switch to the left wing finally brought its reward. Bristol finished the game knowing a little more about players who have not had enough activity recently, with Tommy Hayes and Mark Denney improving through the game in midfield and Craig Short in the back row also featuring well.
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STAR MAN: Carlos Spencer (Northampton)
Northampton: B Reihana; S Lamont (J Howard 40min), J Clarke, L Myring (J Rudd 22min), B Cohen; C Spencer, M Robinson; T Smith, S Thompson (capt, D Hartley 49min), C Budgen (B Sturgess 69min), D Browne, M Lord (D Gerard 61min), B Lewitt (D Fox 65min), S Harding, Daniel-Browne (M Sodden 71min)
Bristol: V Going; L Robinson (D Gray 62min), M Denney, M Contepomi, S Marsden (R Higgitt 72min); T Hayes, J Rauluni; M Irish (A Clarke 62min), S Nelson (N Clarke 62min), W Thompson (M Rospide 65min), M Sambucetti, O Hodge, R Martin-Redman, C Short (capt), G Lewis
Scorers: Northampton: Tries: Harding (2), Cohen (2), Spencer, Robinson, Howard Cons: Reihana (5)
Bristol: Try: Sambucetti Pen: Hayes
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Referee: E Darriere (France)
Attendance: 12,227