Bath coach Booth takes comfort from performance in loss to Northampton Saints

The west country outfit, who had won six successive games going into the clash at Franklin’s Gardens, fought back from 20-9 down to lead 23-20 with 12 minutes to go.

But a late Jamie Elliott try, the wing’s second of the game, secured the points for Saints and moved them six points clear of their opponents in the Premiership standings.

Booth admitted he was disappointed with the final score, but hailed the character Bath showed to get back in the game.

“We had a couple of opportunities that we left out there in the first half in particular,” he said.

“We could have made life easier for ourselves and when you are playing sides towards the top of the table you have to make sure you take your chances. We were probably guilty of not doing that in the first half.

“More importantly it was a great test of character. We were 20-9 down and rolled our sleeves up at a really difficult place and showed a massive amount of character.

“That is going to serve us well because we are on a longer journey and that sort of desire to play for your team-mates is going to serve us well going forward.”

The scrum battle provided plenty of interest as both sides gave as good as they got throughout the afternoon.

And Booth was happy with how his men performed not only in the scrum, but also in the lineout, where they had plenty of success.

“From the scrum point of view, they are a good scrummaging side and so are we,” he said.

“It was a very good contest and from a lineout point of view we went very well and put them under massive pressure.

“These are the margins we try and live in and that’s where we are going. We have got a lot to be pleased about but we are disappointed with the result.”