# Big Guns in 18-Try Shoot-Out

> Northampton's Phil Dowson defends rugby's intensity after Saints and Bath scored 18 tries in a high-scoring match.
- Title: Big Guns in 18-Try Shoot-Out · The Rugby Paper | Shortify
- Summary: Northampton's Phil Dowson defends rugby's intensity after Saints and Bath scored 18 tries in a high-scoring match. Northampton's Phil Dowson claims rugby…
- Keywords: northampton, saints, bath, prem, rugby, tries, sports, Big, Guns, 18-Try, Shoot-Out, The Rugby Paper
- Source: The Rugby Paper — https://therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/494768/big-guns-in-18-try-shoot-out
- Author: The Rugby Paper Team
- Published: 2026-10-11T02:59:58+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: northampton, saints, bath, prem, rugby, tries, sports
## Phil Dowson
Northampton's Phil Dowson denied rugby has gone soft after Saints and Bath scored 18 tries in a high-scoring match.

> I know people will say it is too easy to ...
## 119 Points
Saints won 71-48, the second highest points total in the league's history.
## Recent Trends
Northampton beat Bristol 94-33 in May, the Prem's biggest aggregate, with attack dominating defense globally.
## Key takeaway

Northampton's Phil Dowson claims rugby remains tough despite Saints and Bath's 18-try match.