Two tries in the last 15 minutes transformed not only the scoreline but the spirits at the Recreation Ground yesterday and sent Bath's supporters into the new year with reinforced relish for their European Cup final against Brive on January 31st. But it was a case of lovely cherry and pity about the cake.

The home captain Andy Nicol, who scored the second, had suggested that everyone would be glad to "stop watching old films and enjoy, hopefully, a good match of rugby". Closer study of old Bath films might have produced the match in mind. The first half was a mess, the third quarter a muddle, only the finale spectacular.

Northampton were no better and ultimately worse. Their initial plan was to rest certain players. No sooner do clubs get the sequence of games that they crave for continuity than they think of breaking it voluntarily, saving men for the big one. Bedford, who visit Franklins Gardens in the Tetley's Cup on Saturday, will be flattered to be taken so seriously.

In the event Northampton, on a roll of three victories, came at their fullest fit strength; the locally grown Jim Bramhall made his first start, with Matt Dawson nursing a shoulder. But the roll at once began a rock and eventually a wobble. They have not won at Bath for 21 years.

Paul Grayson, the man of the month, burst his own bubble. He put the kick-off dead, an early penalty wide and found less protection than of late from his pack, which was discomfited in the scrum and produced little from the line-out. He kicked one out of three before going off with a bruised arm beyond the hour, when Jonathan Callard had kicked four out of four.

Poor passing and ball retention had left that hour wretched. The remainder was thrilling, leaving Northampton to regret a scorned penalty at 3-6, which at once became 3-9 before half-time.

Gregor Townsend, responsible for several breaks of floating incision in the centre, had just gone to his favoured out-half position when he chipped into space, only for Dan Lyle to gather, make ground, flip an overhead pass to Callard and see Russell Earnshaw charge over.

Afterwards both sides reported injury problems. Bath's Phil de Glanville sustained a rib injury that seems certain to rule him out of next Saturday's Tetley's Cup fourth-round tie against London Scottish, while hooker Mark Regan (shoulder) and Lyle (elbow) are also struggling.

Besides Grayson, Townsend (hip) failed to last the distance for Northampton.

Bath coach Andy Robinson cited his team's injury problems as a legacy of playing two tough matches in four days, this victory following on from last Saturday's narrow triumph at Sale.

"The game is a lot quicker and tougher these days and I really think it's asking too much to play two hard league matches in quick succession. It's an issue that needs looking at," Robinson said.

"It may mean clubs having bigger squads, but again it begs the question of how the domestic season is structured."