Adam Williams presents his prediction for the English Premiership rugby match.
After the results of the previous round, Bristol Bears dropped three places, while Northampton Saints climbed two, making them neighbours in the standings at fourth and fifth. Will the Saints overtake the hosts?
Bristol Bears
In the fifth round, the Bears faced the toughest possible opponent—the Saracens. They nearly accomplished the impossible by defeating the previously unbeaten London side (six matches in a row), but they fell short at the final whistle. A victory that seemed within their grasp slipped away in the 82nd minute due to either conceding a penalty or the end of the game. Unfortunately, it was the former. Their lack of composure during a numerical advantage let them down. Yes, they scored a try, but they also conceded one. Early in the match, they also suffered a sending-off and failed to protect their try line.
Northampton Saints
The Saints, on the other hand, maintained discipline in the last round. They committed more infringements (11-8) compared to Sale Sharks, but only the Sharks were penalised with a yellow card, leading to 10 minutes of reduced numbers. The Saints capitalised perfectly on this advantage, scoring three tries in quick succession and turning a slight 12:10 lead into a dominant 31:10. With 55 minutes left on the clock, there was ample opportunity for potential comebacks, but the Sharks only managed to extend their defeat, ending 47:17.
Bristol Bears vs Northampton Saints Prediction
Discipline may give the visitors an edge over Bristol Bears, as in the two previous Premiership clashes at Ashton Gate, the Bears were emphatic victors—52:21 and 62:8. This season, they have grown even stronger, while the Saints have seemingly weakened. We do not foresee a rout, but we do anticipate a victory by a modest margin. Even their discipline won’t save them.
