Dowson no doubt reminded his side to keep within their patterns and quickly close the door on the Bulls, and it appeared to have an instant impact with Saints crossing for their fifth try within a minute of the restart, Alex Coles finishing off a brilliantly-executed move.
And when Ramm skipped over for his second after a strong carry by Juarno Augustus there would be no way back this time for the Bulls. Any hope of a second revival ended when Hanekom was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle, chalking off a try in the process, and Saints pushed on.
After George Hendy had gone close in the corner, Fraser Dingwall crossed for his side’s seventh try, after a Bulls’ line-out misfired, and as the visitors lost their discipline further tries followed by Mitchell and Augustus.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 5-0 Ramm try, 7-0 Smith con; 7-5, Hanekom try, 7-7, Smith con; 12-7, Lawes try, 14-7, Smith con; 14-10, Smith pen; 19-10 Sleighthome try, 21-10, Smith con; 26-10, Mitchell try, 28-10, Smith con. 28-15, Van der Merwe try, 28-20, de Klerk try, 28-22, Smith con; 33-22, Coles try, 35-22, Smith con; 40-22 Ramm try; 45-22, Dingwall try, 47-22, Smith con; 52-22, Mitchell try, 54-22, Smith con; 59-22, Augustus try
Northampton Saints: J Ramm; G Hendy, T Freeman, F Dingwall G Furbank 60), O Sleighthome; F Smith, A Mitchell (T James 67); E Iyogun (Alex Waller 57), C Langdon (S Matavesi 51), T Davison (P Hill 57), A Moon, A Coles (T Mayanavanua 67), C Lawes (A Scott-Young 51), S Graham (L Ludlam 51), J Augustus
Bulls: D Williams; S de Klerk, H Immelman, H Vorster (C Hendricks 59), S Jacobs; C Smith (Jaco van der Walt 65), Z Burger; S Matanzima (D Smith 50), A van der Merwe, M Smith (F Klopper 50), J Swanepoel, JF van Heerden, N Carr, M Gumede, C Hanekom (M Olivier 70)
Referee: M Raynal (FRA)
