Bristol Bears 46-12 Northampton Saints result – Gallagher PREM latest as Kieran Marmion scores two of five first half tries to end unbeaten run

PREM / Regular

Ashton Gate Stadium / 29.11.2025

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20:04

BRISTOL SEND SAINTS TO FIRST LEAGUE DEFEAT

Bristol Bears scored five unanswered first half tries on their way to recording a 46-12 victory over previous Gallagher PREM leaders Northampton Saints.

The Saints came into the game with an impressive record of four wins and a draw in their opening five league fixtures and started the weekend top.

However, the injury-hit squad were dealt a further blow just five minutes in when Italian winger Edoardo Todaro was given a 20-minute red for a dangerous challenge on kicker Sam Worsley.

The Bears took full advantage of the extra player with Kieran Marmion tricking his opposition with a quick move resulting in the opening try.

Bristol were in the ascendancy and Tom Jordan drove over from close range to double their advantage with just nine minutes played.

Marmion completed his brace on 15 minutes before Benhard Janse van Rensburg created his side’s fourth try for Kalaveti Ravouvou.

Despite the Saints being restored to 15 players they were helpless to stop Aidan Boshoff making it 35-0 at half-time.

Returning from injury Saints’ skipper George Furbank led a second half fightback, resulting in both JJ van der Mescht and Tom Litchfield scoring tries.

However, the evening belong to the Bears and Luka Ivanishvili capped the performance with his side’s sixth try at the death.

Image credit: Getty Images

19:50

REES-ZAMMIT: ‘MASSIVE FOR US’

Bristol Bears winger Louis Rees-Zammit said beating previous league leaders Northampton Saints is ‘massive’ for the club.

"It’s absolutely massive for us.

"We spoke about it last year, we won a lot of the road and not so much as Ashton Gate. We wanted to turn that around, now we’ve got three from three at home.

"Today was about winning the middle of the field, we did well. The forwards dug in so deep and helped us backs out."

19:45

RUGBY ON TNT SPORTS

Watch and stream Gallagher PREM, Quilter Nations Series, and Premiership Women's Rugby and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

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What rugby is on TNT Sports? How to watch on TV and live stream

25/01/2026 at 22:04

19:44

VAN RENSBURG: ‘IT WAS AN AMAZING NIGHT’

After signing a contract extension with Bristol earlier this week Benhard Janse van Rensburg said his side’s ambition is to win the Premiership.

"It was an absolutely amazing night," he told TNT Sports.

"It’s really good to start this second block with a performance like that as a team. Everyone played their hearts out.

"Last season we ran everything and team started to expect that, to have kicking to put you in the right areas of the pitch is really nice."

On qualifying to play for England next year: "I’ll see what happens in a year’s time, when that time comes. We have a big goal, as a Bears team, to win the Premiership and that’s something I will try and focus on."

19:37

SAINTS BEATEN FOR FIRST TIME

Northampton Saints came into the match flying high at the Gallagher PREM summit. However, they were firmly brought back to earth by Bath this evening and were torn apart in the first half.

FT'

PEEP

That’s full-time as the Bears record a convincing win to rekindle their top four hopes.

80+1'

TRY! BRISTOL BEARS (IVANISHVILI) 46-12 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

The Saints attempt to win a line-out five metres from the line. However, the Bears get the ball down and Ivanishvili scores. The conversion is missed.

'Hunting the line' - Ivanishvili grabs a late try before full-time to extend Bristol's lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

77'

LITCHFIELD INJURY

The Saints outside centre is receiving treatment on the pitch. Northampton will be hoping that he is not added to their extensive injury list.

76'

BOSHOFF GOES CLOSE

Bristol were a metre away from scoring another try. Boshoff reads a loose pass perfectly but is halted by a scrambling Saints just a metre short.

73'

PENALTY! BRISTOL BEARS (WORSLEY) 41-12 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

A penalty for a tackle off the ball allows Worsley the chance to restore Bristol’s lead to 29 points.

72'

LAST RAFT OF CHANGES

Northampton - Van der Mescht off for Benson; Caqusau off for Pater.

Bristol - Ivanishvili on for Harding; Gwilliam on for Thacker.

69'

FURBANK BACK WITH A BANG

Despite Northampton not being at their best this evening the return of Furbank has been huge. After being out for almost a year the Saints star has been in the thick of all the action.

66'

FURTHER CHANGES

For Northampton - Wright is off for Smith; James on for McParland.

Bristol - Owen on for Mata

62'

THAME MISSES CHANCE

Northampton have really upped their tempo. Another quick passing move along the line results in Hutchinson finding Thame. However, he snatches at the ball and knocks on.

59'

TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 38-12 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (LITCHFIELD)

A try of beauty for Northampton. Smith fires a pass out wide which allows Furbank to dink a lovely kick through which Litchfield grounds. Smith misses the conversion from a tight angle.

'An injection of pace' - Litchfield salvages another try for Northampton Saints

Video credit: TNT Sports

57'

SAINTS SURVIVE PRESSURE

The Bears receive a penalty in front of the posts which they kick to touch in search of a further try.

A line-out and drive is illegally halted. A knock-on at the following driving maul regains the possession for Northampton.

53'

BOTH SIDES RE-SHUFFLE

For Bristol - Wolstenholme on for Marmion; Chawatama off for Halliwell; Woolmore off for Max Lahiff.

Northampton - Kundiona on for Davison; Graham off for Pearson.

49'

PENALTY! BRISTOL BEARS (WORSLEY) 38-7 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

A controversial penalty is awarded against the Saints for an infringement at the scrum. Northampton’s tough night gets worse as Worsley adds a penalty.

46'

TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 35-7 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (VAN DER MESCHT)

The Saints are rewarded for their early pressure and the power of Van der Mescht is unstoppable as he receives the ball a metre out. The Smith conversion is a good one.

'The late arrival' - Van der Mescht powers over for Northampton

Video credit: TNT Sports

44'

HUTCHINSON TAKES BIG HIT

Saints start the second half on the front foot and get into their opponents 22-metre zone. However, Hutchinson releases the ball late and takes the full force of Mata’s tackle.

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