BRISTOL’S faltering start to the season hit a further low point as they conceded four tries to Northampton in this EDF Energy Cup opener.

The side propping up the Premiership failed to deal with Northampton’s pace and greater sense of adventure, with Chris Mayor and Chris Ashton showing real ambition and Paul Diggin being equally effective at full-back.

That the outcome was affected by five players being sin-binned was beyond doubt. Bristol had three players yellow-carded, including former Wales lock Robert Sidoli, one of their new recruits this season.

Sidoli and centre Kevin Maggs were sin-binned either side of half-time and before Bristol were back to full strength, Northampton had scored two tries through Ashton and Mayor and were almost out of sight.

It was far from a brutal contest, with referee Nigel Owens using the yellow card for technical offences.

Bristol had some consolation with their new wing Mathew Turner, a South African who has an English mother, scoring two tries on his debut.

As these two teams are due to play each other at least five times this season, this was a clear opportunity for one of them to put down a marker in their mini-series.

Bristol struck first when Turner, who has played for South Africa U21, snapped up his first opportunity inside two minutes, Lee Robinson’s run giving the new boy the chance to score in the corner.

Northampton needed only three minutes to draw level. Barry Everitt’s long penalty set up a lineout 20 metres out and the Saints pushed the ball fast across the pitch for Diggin to put in the finishing burst for a try. Even though Bristol had more of the territory, Northampton continued to threaten, with Ashton demanding a key tackle from Iain Grieve to stop him. Then Bristol countered with three sucecessive darts towards the posts before Sidoli was penalised for not releasing.

Turner ran in his second try after 23 minutes, chasing a chip through to the corner and having the satisfaction of beating Ashton in the chase.

Northampton, however, drew level for a second time just two minutes later with half-back Lee Dickson finishing off a long attack up the right flank spearheaded by Matt Lord.

Everitt kicked the Saints ahead for the first time after 39 minutes but let a similar chance go begging. Bristol lost Sidoli to the bin as they trailed 13-10 at half-time.

The visitors soon went down to 13 men with Maggs departing for handling in a ruck, and Northampton extended their lead when Ashton beat two defenders in a finishing run which might have been equally damaging against a full team.

Sidoli’s return did nothing to improve Bristol’s position and after 55 minutes the home side added a fourth try with Mayor, a new recruit from Sale, scoring wide out after Diggin was checked.

Northampton brought on Joe Gray as a replacement hooker after 57 minutes but he survived for only four minutes before he too was sin-binned.

Northampton were down to 13 players after 65 minutes when replacement prop Ben Broster departed to the bin at the same time as Bristol prop Mark Irish.

For a time Northampton looked as if they could live with the shortfall but six minutes from the end Bristol ended their long wait for a third try. It would have been fitting if captain Matt Salter had broken through on the right flank but Bristol had to switch to the left, where a long pass from Sidoli gave Vunga Lilo a short run-in.

Star man:Paul Diggin (Northampton)

NORTHAMPTON:P Diggin; C Ashton, C Mayor (N Greenhalgh 80min), N Mordt, S Lamont; B Everitt, L Dickson (J Brake 78min); S Tonga’uiha, P Shields (J Gray 57min), B Stewart (B Broster 51min), A Rae (capt), M Lord (J Vickers 64min, L Neale 79min), C Lawes, R Milligan, B Lewitt.

BRISTOL:V Lilo; L Robinson, L Eves, K Maggs, M Turner (G Barden 71min); C Ashwin, H Thomas (S Alford 63min); M Irish, M Regan (D Blaney 57min), P Bracken, R Winters (D Attwood 63min), R Sidoli, M Salter (capt, C Pennycook 78min), I Grieve, R Pennycook (A Clarke 64min).

Scorers: Northampton:Tries: Diggin 8, Dickson 25, Ashton 48, Mayor 55 Cons: Everitt (2). Pens: Everitt (2) Bristol:Tries: Turner 2, 23, Lilo 71 Con: Ashwin Yellow cards: Northampton:Gray (61min), Broster (65min)Bristol:Sidoli (39min), Maggs (44min), Irish (65min)

Referee:N Owens (WRU)

Attendance:11,301

20
The number of games that Northampton have gone unbeaten at Franklin’s Gardens, in all competitions. Their last home defeat was a 7-5 loss to Gloucester on March 3, 2007