Northampton Saints dominated the Investec Champions Cup Pool Four clash, crushing the Bulls 50-5 as George Hendy completed a hat-trick in a game packed with scoring and momentum. The Saints seized control after a tense first half and never looked back, racking up eight tries to secure maximum points from their opening two pool fixtures.
Sleightholme started the scoring with a scorching break and finish, quickly followed by Hendy crossing twice in a display of speed and precision. Henry Pollock added the bonus-point try before the break as Saints, led by an efficient attack, stretched their advantage to 14-5 at halftime.
The Bulls’ hopes took a hit soon after the break when Alulutho Tshakweni received a yellow card for a trip, a decisive moment that left them hamstrung in defense and discipline. Yet the visitors did not immediately capitulate; they remained in the contest as Saints pressed, with Ollie Sleightholme and Hendy each finding the try line again as the hosts pulled away.
Saints’ pressure intensified in the second half. Fin Smith dictated play, delivering a deft left-footed cross-field kick that Hendy gathered to secure his second and complete a personal brace, extending the lead and keeping the Bulls at bay.
With one man up and a growing lead, Pollock capitalized to rack up the bonus point, and soon after Alex Coles and Sleightholme added two more tries in rapid succession, turning the match into a one-sided affair.
Hendy’s hat-trick was sealed with ten minutes remaining, and Josh Kemeny capped an excellent afternoon for Northampton with the eighth try on the stroke of full time. The 50-point win kept Saints at the top of Pool Four on points difference, tied on 10 points with Bordeaux, the defending champions, who also sit on 10 after their win earlier in the pool.
This result follows Saints’ 35-27 victory at Pau last week, signaling a strong start as they aim to go further than last season’s runners-up. The two top teams from the pool will meet again in January when Northampton travel to Bordeaux. Their final pool match will be a home tie against Scarlets on January 18.
Team notes:
- Northampton Saints: Furbank; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Dingwall, Hendy; F Smith, Mitchell; Fischetti, Wright, Davison, Coles, Van der Mescht, Kemeny, Pearson, Pollock. Replacements: R Smith, Iyogun, Kundiona, Munga, Prowse, Graham, James, Thame.
- Bulls: Williams; Petersen, Gans, Vorster, Jacobs; Wolhuter, Burger; Tshakweni, Van der Merwe, Smith, Wiese, Van Heerden, Coetzee, Ludwig, Louw. Replacements: Else, Sithole, Mchunu, Gumede, Carr, Papier, Johannes, Van Niekerk.
- Yellow card: Tshakweni (53). Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco). Assistants: Rob McDowell (Sco), Dave Sutherland (Sco). TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco).
This match highlights Northampton’s potency in attack and their continuing elevation under pressure, while the Bulls must regroup quickly if they want to contest the remainder of the pool.
