Saints inflict sixth defeat

Rotherham slipped to their sixth successive defeat of the Zurich Premiership campaign when they lost 32-19 at home to the European champions Northampton. The Yorkshire side, playing in the top flight for the first time, battled hard, but four visiting tries - from Ben Cohen, Budge Pountney, Simon Webster and Jon Phillips - against one Jim Naylor effort for the hosts underlined the difference in class.

Rotherham slipped to their sixth successive defeat of the Zurich Premiership campaign when they lost 32-19 at home to the European champions Northampton. The Yorkshire side, playing in the top flight for the first time, battled hard, but four visiting tries - from Ben Cohen, Budge Pountney, Simon Webster and Jon Phillips - against one Jim Naylor effort for the hosts underlined the difference in class.

Come the season's end, Rotherham may well face a two-leg promotion-relegation decider with Worcester, who yesterday dished out a 40-13 drubbing to Leeds, their likeliest rivals for the National League One title, with the Tongan Sateki Tuipoluto supplying half their points. Newcomers Otley, Henley and Exeter boast the other 100-per-cent records after two rounds of matches.

Bridgend retained their lead in the Welsh/Scottish League Premier Division after beating Ebbw Vale 48-15 - their fifth win from five starts. Jamie Ringer, Gareth Jones, Chris Ferris, Simon Hill and Josh Taumalolo were all on the mark for the visitors while Craig Warlow kicked 23 points. Rhys Shorney and Shaun Connor went over for financially troubled Vale.

Pontypridd recovered from recent humiliations by Neath and Cardiff to win 60-12 at Cross Keys. Brett Davey finished with 23 points while Lenny Woodard and Richard Johnston scored two tries each to leave newly-promoted Keys firmly anchored to the bottom with five defeats in a row.

Llanelli, reeling from three away defeats in eight days, bounced back with a 46-26 home victory over Caerphilly. Two tries apiece from Mark Jones and Neil Boobyer, and further touchdowns by Garan Evans, Dafydd Jones and Guy Easterby put them 46-0 up early in the second half. Caerphilly then gave them a scare by running in four tries through Sean Marshall, David Hawkins, Justin Thomas and Roddy Boobyer.

Tries from Cati Tuipuloto and Richard Francis helped Neath to see off Swansea 24-9 at The Gnoll and extend their unbeaten home league record which began last October.