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Last Updated: Sunday, 1 January 2006, 16:55 GMT

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Northampton 29-22 Bristol

Northampton fly-half Carlos Spencer tries to shake off a tackle by Shaun Perry

Northampton: (16) 29
Tries: Clarke, Budgen
Cons: Reihana 2
Pens: Reihana 4
Drop: Spencer

Bristol: (12) 22
Tries: Lemi 2, Crompton
Cons: Strange 2
Pen: Strange

A late Chris Budgen try at Franklin's Gardens saw Northampton move six points clear of Premiership bottom side Leeds.

Saints led through an early Jon Clarke try but were hit by a quick-fire brace from Bristol's Samoan wing David Lemi.

Three Bruce Reihana penalties restored the lead at 16-12 only for prop Darren Crompton's try to nudge Bristol ahead.

A Carlos Spencer drop-goal levelled it but Jason Strange's penalty might have won it before Budgen's late salvation, Reihana adding a last-minute penalty.

Northampton director of rugby Budge Pountney:
"Carlos Spencer was a bit rusty after being out for a few weeks and has only managed to train once.

"But when he's on the field he gives the rest of the players confidence no matter who is outside of him and he shows them that they can play.

"The pleasing thing is that we didn't fall at the last hurdle. We got over it and closed the game out. Mentally we showed a bit of courage."

Bristol coach Richard Hill:
"Many of this side haven't played here before in front of a big crowd and we just did some silly things.

"It was a lack of composure under pressure that was uncharacteristic.

"The first 40 minutes were riddled with errors and this was disappointing. And when we got the bonus point we nearly threw that away."

Northampton: Reihana; Rudd, Clarke, Vilk, Diggin; Spencer, Howard; Smith, Thompson, Budgen; D Browne, Lord; Seely, Lewitt, D Browne.
Replacements: Robinson for Howard (41), Hartley for Smith (73), Noon for Budgen (77), Gerard for Seely (77), Harding for Lewitt (73), Tupai for D. Browne (58). Not Used: Patston.

Bristol: Stortoni; Robinson, Lima, Cox, Lemi; Strange, Perry; Hilton, Regan, Crompton; Winters, Llewellyn; Salter, El Abd, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Irish for Hilton (66), Lewis for Salter (67). Not Used: Nelson, Sambucetti, Rauluni, Hayes, Higgitt.

Sin Bin: Ward-Smith (74).

Att: 13,485

Ref: Martin Fox (RFU).

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