Bristol Bears suffered their 14th defeat of the season in the Gallagher Premiership to go down 39-22 against Northampton Saints on Saturday.
Saints winger Tom Collins scored a brace of tries and was joined on the scoresheet by Rory Hutchinson, Lewis Ludlam and Tommy Freeman.
Bristol crossed the line four times through Semi Radradra, Callum Sheedy, Yann Thomas and Alapati Leiua to earn an attacking bonus point but were significantly second best at Franklin's Gardens.
South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears....
15. Charles Piutau - 7
The full-back showed exactly what he brings to the team with a great offload off the deck to Sheedy to put the fly-half in for his try.
The Bears needed to get him the ball more often.
14. Siva Naulago - 7
The winger was impressing on his turn from a three-match suspension following a red card for a high tackle, powering through tackles to make metres and he saved a try with some excellent corner flagging to sweep in behind and run the ball into touch a metre from his line with Saints winger Tommy Freeman set to regather his own kick through to score.
Sadly left the field after 29 minutes for Luke Morahan after jarring his knee.
13. Semi Radradra - 6
The Fijian scored a relatively easy try after running in support following a break down the outside by Harry Thacker.
But for the rest of the game, Bristol’s tactic of give it to Semi and hope he does something magic from a standing start was in stark contrast to the slashing, high speed attacking moves coming from the Saints.
That said he delivered on a few occasions with powerful blasts to be the team's top attacker with 88m gained from 19 carries but he was yellow-carded in the second half for an off the ball tackle on Dan Biggar having burst out the defensive line to open up a hole for Northampton to score.
12. Antoine Frisch - 6
The Frenchman’s ability to run a hard line down the 12 channel is so valuable and in the 22nd minute he broke the Saints defensive line, offloading back inside to Andy Uren who burst up-field and should have done better with the opportunity. Moments later he was alert to race onto a chip kick over from Callum Sheedy to create another attacking opportunity.
Some excellent tackles but made the wrong choice to try and wrap the ball up against Ludlam who carried the centre over the line to score.
11. Alapati Leiua - 7
The winger saved a try with a stunning defensive effort in the 12th minute to force Saints skipper Ludlam into touch after he broke blind from a maul off a 5m lineout.
Very solid with his handling ands basics throughout and rewarded with a try in the 73rd minute from a gorgeous long pass from Luke Morahan.
10. Callum Sheedy - 6
The Welshman had his best running game of the season as he repeatedly looked a threat with ball in hand and got a try as a reward. However, his kicking was completely off at Franklin’s Gardens, landing just one of his three conversion attempts and completely miscuing a drop out from behind his own line to allow Northampton to charge the ball down.
Removed at 52 minutes for Tiff Eden in a tactical change with one eye on next weekend’s Champions Cup game.
9. Andy Uren - 6
On his return from a hamstring injury, the scrum-half did exceptionally well to hold the ball up over the line with Saints in prime position to score after getting a maul motoring over the whitewash.
He was a real threat with his running game but blew a great try-scoring chance with an offload forward to Harry Thacker who ran the ball in under the posts but was correctly called back.
1. Yann Thomas - 8
The prop had a powerful display in the setpiece and in the loose, putting that scrumaging strength to good use to force his way over from about three metres out to score a try.
2. Harry Thacker - 5
The hooker was phenomenal in the loose throughout.
Winger Tommy Freeman gave him too much space to work with on the outside in the seventh minute and forward beat him for pace to set up the first try.
But, and it is a big but, the lineout was a disaster area with Thacker throwing at least three balls not straight even when Saints didn’t put up any rival jumpers.
Ended up playing on the flank with Joe Joyce coming off after 64 minutes for hooker Jake Kerr.
3. John Afoa - 7
The prop put in a tackle on George Furbank that will have rattled the full-back’s bones.
Good scrummaging and excellent handling throughout during his hour on the pitch.
4. Dave Attwood - 6
The lock made some typical powerful blasts with the ball in hand but the Bears kept running their locks down dead-end avenues, guarded by two Saints defenders.
A disruptor supreme defending catch and drive lineouts from the hosts.
5. Joe Joyce - 6
The skipper put in an absolutely huge hand off on Saints hooker Sam Matavesi to air the forward.
6. Chris Vui - 6
The big forward has such good hands and it was his pass that set Thacker free to race down the outside and put in Radradra to score.
7. Jake Heenan - 5
Caught overrunning from the back of the lineout for Saints' first try as Rory Hutchinson split him and Siva Naulago to break the line, draw Callum Sheedy and pass for Collins to score.
The Kiwi then missed the first tackle on Ludlam as the flanker went through four Bears players to touch down and score from 20m out just before the break.
Full of running with ball in hand before departing in the 48th minute for a HIA, not to return.
8. Fitz Harding - 6
The number eight was yellow carded for the second week in succession for a high tackle, but it felt like a harsh decision from the officials considering others in the game had got more lenient sentences.
Replacements:
16. Jake Kerr - 6
17. Jono Benz-Salomon - 6
18. Jake Armstrong - 6
19. Sam Jeffries - 7
20. Harry Randall - 7
21. Tiff Eden - 6
22. Piers O’Conor - 6
23. Luke Morahan - 7
