In front of an attendance of 11,810, Saints biggest crowd of the season so far, Coventry were soon on the back foot and feeling the full all round power of Northampton, surely champions elect of National Division One.

A much changed side from seven days earlier certainly travelled in a very positive frame of mind, determined to enjoy the occasion and with no negative thoughts about the task ahead.

For Saints to be beaten before they undoubtedly return to the Guinness Premiership, it is going to take a side right at the very top of their form to push them that little bit further and even then, one questions whether there is a side capable of it as well as possibly catching Northampton somewhat off guard.

Cov to their eternal credit played with an enormous amount of  endeavour, putting in a high number of tackles, but even then, the shear pace, lines of running and support work of the hosts was simply for the most part too much to handle.

In terms of attacking opportunities for Coventry, these were very limited, very much so in the first half, but after the break, although the yellow card given to Dai Maddocks held back some increasing momentum, once back to a full 15, the side had arguably their best passage of the match, without in fairness coming that close to adding to the first half penalty.

That penalty goal was landed by skipper Ben Russell after 28 minutes after Saints had been penalised on their ‘’22’’, but already three tries down at that point, in reality it was not going to drastically change the pattern of the match. Northampton did in fact run in 10 tries overall, five in each half, six being converted to add to an early penalty goal.

With Carlos Spencer in total charge at fly half, another former All Black Bruce Reihana making telling surges from full back and yet another former Kiwi international Mark Robinson at scrum half, it was very easy to see why for example in those surroundings winger Chris Ashton was such a danger; his 3 tries took him further ahead as the Divisions top try scorer to date. What a prospect he looks.

As Head Coach Murray Henderson commented, ‘’ we have to take it on the chin’’. What hasn’t changed of course is that it was the fourth defeat in succession and with some very tough games also now coming up before Christmas.

Coventry. Ben Toft, Kurt Johnson, Jack Cobden, Darren Clayton, Sam Montague, Ben Russell (Capt), Mike Walls, Dai Maddocks, Stuart Friswell, Rudi Brits, Ian Nimmo, Ollie Hodge, Danny Hodge, Jamie Miller, Hendry Rheeders

Replacements; Chris Whitehead, Carl Rimmer, Laurie McGlonde, Gregor Gillanders,

 Tom Slater, Myles Dorrian, Henno Venter.

Northampton. Tries; Chris Ashton 3, Paul Tupai 2, Jon Clarke, Stephen Myler, Nick Easter, Bruce Reihana, Neil Starling. Conversions; Reihana 5, Spencer 1. Penalty goal Reihana.

Coventry. Penalty goal Ben Russell