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3 months ago
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Welcome back to Soul of Sport, Mail Sport's photographic look at the best action across the sporting world.
For our latest episode, our man ANDY HOOPER captured all the action at as Northampton and Bath battled it out for Gallagher Premiership glory.
Nearly 82,000 fans crammed in to Twickenham to witness one of the most exhilarating events of the sporting calendar as two of the very best teams left it all on the line.
Ultimately though it was Northampton who put an end to a decade of hurt as they held off a fierce fightback to prevail 25-21.
Our cameraman captured the action using Nikon Z8 and Z9 cameras with 24-70mm and 70-200 lenses.
Supporters poured into Twickenham ahead of the Gallagher Rugby Premiership final between Bath and Northampton
Fans made sure to make their allegiances perfectly clear ahead of the showdown in south west London on Saturday afternoon
Even the youngest supporters were ready to show their colours and cheer their team on to victory in the showpiece event
More than 81,000 fans were in attendance at Twickenham to witness history unfold between the two top-flight rivals
Fans waved flags to welcome out the teams on a sunny and hugely dramatic afternoon at the home of English rugby
Bath supporters continued to cheer their team on despite being reduced to 14 men after prop Beno Obano was sent off
Spectators couldn't help but try and get a closer look at the action after the game got underway on a pulsating afternoon
Saints got the game underway as they looked to put an end to a decade of hurt in the top flight and win just their second title
Former England star Courtney Lawes was playing his final game for boyhood club Northampton before moving on to Brive
Saints scored the first try of the game courtesy of Tommy Freeman after 24 minutes, one of three tries they scored
Sam Vesty's side added a second try in the first half after Ollie Sleightholme kicked behind and collected his grubber kick
Saints fans were in ecstasy as their side used their numerical advantage to take a commanding lead and drive on to victory
Bath fought valiantly throughout though, and regrouped well after Beno Obano's red card, which came just 21 minutes in
Bath even managed to draw level, but Northampton's Alex Mitchell was on hand to finish off a great break from George Hendy
More than a decade after their last top flight triumph, Northampton fans wasted little time basking in their team's success
An emotional Finn Smith, a three-cap England international, celebrated with his family after the title had been secured
Saints will hope there is not another ten-year wait before they can enjoy another extremely memorable day
English (US)