Northampton were denied an Investec Champions Cup semi-final spot for the third successive season after Bath won an all-time tournament classic 43-41 following a late yellow card for Saints' England star Henry Pollock.
Bath triumphed following a mesmeric 11-try encounter at the Recreation Ground, and they will now face holders Bordeaux-Begles or six-time champions Toulouse.
The winning score came via a Ted Hill touchdown that Finn Russell converted three minutes from time – and shortly after Northampton went down to 14 players when Pollock departed.
Attacking rugby was showcased in all its glory as the top two teams in this season’s Gallagher Prem cut loose, with Northampton posting five first-half touchdowns from Pollock, Fraser Dingwall, Tom Lockett, Josh Kemeny and Ollie Sleightholme, all converted by Fin Smith.
It looked as though two Smith penalties after the break would thwart a Bath fightback as drama continued right to the end, but it was not to be following Bath tries for Hill, Kepu Tuipulotu, Finn Russell, Henry Arundell, Francois van Wyk and Tom Dunn, while Russell booted five conversions and a penalty.
Smith and Russell exchanged penalties as the clock ticked down, then Pollock saw yellow and Hill’s late show unforgettably sealed the deal.
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