Premiership: Northampton Saints 21-28 Bristol Bears - Leaders Bristol leave it late

Northampton back row Nick Isiekwe pulled Saints back into the game with a try on the stroke of half-time

Bristol extended their lead at the top of Premiership but needed two late tries to beat Northampton.

First-half tries from Henry Purdy and Siva Naulago looked to have put the Bears in control at Franklin's Gardens.

A score on the stroke of half-time from Nick Isiekwe kept Saints in touch and George Furbank's try on 58 minutes put them into the lead.

But two tries in a minute late on from Luke Morahan and Andy Uren sealed Bristol's bonus-point win.

The league leaders looked to be in control when Purdy stepped off his wing to open the scoring and Naulago bundled over from close range.

Blind-side Isiekwe then powered in after finding room on the left and when Furbank chased down Tommy Freeman's kick through, the home side looked like closing out an unexpected victory.

Replacement Harry Mallinder missed a straight forward kick for the home side with the scores at 21-14, while Bristol looked to have missed their opportunity when a long pass to Naulago in space went straight out.

But replacement Morahan found space to score in the corner and from the next attack, Uren burst through from Fitz Harding's pass to score under the posts.

Northampton stay fifth after Sale's win, while Bristol extend their lead over Exeter.

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam to BT Sport:

"It was never in doubt, was it! It wasn't our best rugby, but I said before the game that it was going to come down to defence. We knew that Saints are a dangerous team, and when I saw their team I had a fair idea of what Boydy [Chris Boyd] was going to do.

"We said if we attacked well we wouldn't have to defend as much, but that didn't happen. With seven minutes to go we had to go and win the game, and that was probably our best rugby at the end. I'm really pleased the boys got the job done."

Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd to BT Sport:

"We didn't manage to hold them out and couldn't control the kick-off, and they scored. The last two minutes certainly cost us after we clawed our way back into the game."

Northampton: Furbank; Proctor, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman; Grayson, James; Waller (capt), Matavesi, Hill, Coles, Ratuniyarawa, Isiekwe, Wood, Harrison.

Replacements: Haywood, Auterac, Painter, Moon, Tonks, Taylor, Francis, Mallinder,

Bristol: Purdy; Adeolokun, O'Conor, Leiua, Naulago; Eden, Uren; Y Thomas, Byrne, Afoa, Joyce, Vui, Luatua (capt), D Thomas, Hughes.

Replacements: Capon, Woolmore, Lahiff, Holmes, Harding, Kessell, Bedlow, Morahan.

Referee: Tom Foley

• Rugby Weekly Union podcast - listen and subscribe here