It took an amalgam of acceleration, power and balance from the flamehaired 21-year-old wing to set up the winning try for scrum-half Alex Mitchell, after surging 40 metres to torch the hopes of a fiercely combative Bath outfit.
Hendy had come on four minutes into the second half, just as 14-man Bath were in the process of dragging Northampton into deep water, despite losing loose-head Beno Obano only 20 minutes into the match for a high shoulder to the head of Saints No.8 Juarno Augustus.
Bath’s grit and determination saw them make light of the handicap as they bottled-up the best attacking team in the Premiership to take a 21-18 lead through a 66th minute Finn Russell penalty – and they looked capable of pulling off an epic against the-odds victory.
Northampton’s problems appeared to be compounded when fly-half Fin Smith, the league’s players player of the year, hobbled off with a leg injury 10 minutes from time. However, with Saints skipper George Furbank taking over at fly-half, and desperation building in Northampton’s ranks, they managed to pull it out of the fire, thanks to Hendy’s inspirational charge.
Receiving the ball from Furbank a couple of metres inside the Bath half, Hendy attacked the channel between Ollie Lawrence and Will Muir, and as the Bath pair tried to snare him he shrugged them off. Hitting full stride Hendy tore into the Bath 22, and as he was clattered by the cover he showed great strength to stay on his feet long enough to loop the crucial scoring pass inside to Mitchell.
The England scrum-half had not had the easiest of afternoons with his opposite number, Ben Spencer, and the outstanding Bath flankers, Sam Underhill and Ted Hill, hounding him around the breakdown. However, he had the legs and lungs to track Hendy’s break and collect his pass to touch down near the posts.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Newcastle can't live with Bath late show
GREAT rugby teams know how to win even when they aren't firing on all cylinders, and league leaders Bath highlighted their quality with a late comeback to keep their hopes of a domestic double alive on Friday night.
Larkham delight as Brumbies rule
BRUMBIES coach Stephen Larkham had a tear in his eye at full-time and compared his side's victory at the Blues on Friday to being as rare as playing the British & Irish Lions.
Falcons flyer on the crest of a wave
ELLIOTT Obatoyinbo is hoping he can ride the crest of Newcastle's wave and return to the sort of form that he showed when he first arrived on Tyneside two-and-a-half years ago.
Stade are willing to fight for Gustard
STADE Francais' billionaire owner hinted last week that head coach Paul Gustard's reported move to Leicester may not be quite as cut-and-dried as sections of the British press have suggested.
Freeman deserves run on centre stage
THE England midfield has been a mishmash of failed partnerships, wishful thinking, hap-hazard revolving-door selection, injury disruption, and endless frustration for followers of the Red Rose for the best part of 20 years.
We must pull together to grow game - Baxter
ROB Baxter believes that the responsibility for growing rugby both financially and in terms of interest falls on the entire game, not just individual clubs.
We need to play for the full 80, says Daly
ELLIOT Daly has urged England to put their foot on Italian throats today and keep it there in finally delivering a Six Nations statement performance at Twickenham.
Scotland survive spirited Wales revival
SCOTLAND - so accomplished for the first 50 minutes but so miserably poor for the final half hourmade heavy weather of beating a Wales team that refused to go quietly.
Robinson praise for cross-league rivalry
ANDY Robinson has spoken about the positive experience of playing Championship clubs in what looks set to be the final season of crossleague rivalry.
Tykes get revenge as Lymm crushed
TABLE-toppers Leeds Tykes cemented their position at the summit of National Two North with a crushing victory over Lymm at The Sycamores.
