Six-try Bristol end Northampton's unbeaten start

The Prem

Bristol (35) 46

Tries: Marmion 2, Jordan, Ravouvou, Boshoff, Ivanishvili Cons: Worsley 5 Pens: Worsley 2

Northampton (0) 12

Tries: van der Mescht, Furbank Con: Smith

An irrepressible Bristol Bears decimated second-placed Northampton Saints, scoring five unanswered tries in the first half and inflicted the visitors' first Prem defeat of the season at a buzzing Ashton Gate.

Following Edoardo Todaro's early 20-minute red card for Saints, Kieran Marmion scored a quickfire double from close range either side of Tom Jordan's effort as the visitors reeled after being reduced to 14 men.

The Saints then shipped a fourth through Kalaveti Ravouvou's opportunistic effort before Aidan Boshoff's score gave the Bears a 35-0 lead at half time.

JJ van der Mescht and Tom Litchfield replied as Northampton improved after the break, before Luka Ivanishvili sealed a big win for the Bears.

The match had barely begun when Todaro was sent to the bench for 20 minutes for a dangerous tackle on Sam Worsley in the air.

Saints were immediately on the back foot and only moments later conceded their first try.

Marmion capitalising on poor defending with a close range tap-and-go and they conceded again soon after.

Following repeated phases in the visitors' 22, Joe Batley was repelled before Marmion fed the ball wide to Jordan, who picked a perfect line to score untouched.

Bristol were dominant and scored a third with Saints unable to stem the flow of points.

A delightful midfield move with multiple Bristol players' offloading saw Harry Thacker race up to within inches of the line.

With so many Saints players involved in hauling him down and others struggling to get into position, Marmion was free to pick up at the base and dot down for his second.

Restored to their full complement when Todaro returned, Northampton remained under the pump and were grateful when Thacker's try was ruled out for offside in the build-up.

Unable to get any kind of a foothold, Saints were exposed again on the half hour mark.

Following a Northampton scrum, Fin Smith was hammered in the tackle by Bernhard Janse van Rensburg allowing Ravouvou to gather the ball and outpace everyone to score Bristol's bonus-point try.

Boshoff then dived over in the corner for Bristol's fifth to cap an extraordinarily one-sided first half.

With no options at half-time other than completely capitulating or going down fighting, Saints chose the latter course in the second half.

In a rare foray into the Bristol 22, the visitors managed to keep ball in hand long enough to spring Van der Mescht from short range.

George Furbank's kick through was then regathered by Litchfield for the Saints' second before Ivanishvili powered over from a driving maul as the clock entered the red.

The result moves Bristol up to fifth, while Northampton remain in second.

Bristol: Jordan; Bates, van Rensburg, Williams, Ravouvou; Worsley, Marmion; Woolmore, Thacker, Chawatama; Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding (c), Mata.

Replacements: Oghre, Lahiff, Halliwell, Owen, Ivanishvili, Wolstenholme, Rees-Zammit, Boshoff.

Northampton: Furbank (c); Todaro, Litchfield, Thame, Caqusau; Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Wright, Davison; Prowse, van der Mescht, Kemeny, Graham, Chick.

Replacements: Smith, West, Kundiona, Benson, Pearson, James, Hutchinson, Pater.

Red Card: Todaro.

Referee: Ian Tempest.