Worsley added another three to Bristol’s tally after 74 minutes, when Saints were found off their feet at the breakdown, and Saints found themselves down to 14 men again when injury forced try-scorer Litchfield from the field with Northampton’s bench already depleted.
Bristol, again, used their extra man instantly and sent their driving maul over off an attacking lineout to see Luka Ivanishvili score and end the match with the scoreline swung 46-12 in the home side’s favour.
Saints head into the Investec Champion Cup next weekend, with a trip to Section Paloise first up for Northampton in the competition they reached the final of last term.
LINE-UPS:
Bears: 15 Jordan, 14 Bates, 13 Janse van Rensburg, 12 Williams, 11 Ravouvou, 10 Worsley, 9 Marmion; 1 Woolmore, 2 Thacker, 3 Chawatama, 4 Rubiolo, 5 Batley, 6 Grondona, 7 Harding (c), 8 Mata.
Replacements: 16 Oghre, 17 Lahiff, 18 Halliwell, 19 Owen, 20 Ivanishvili, 21 Wolstenholme, 22 Rees-Zammit, 23 Boshoff.
Saints: 15 Furbank (c), 14 Todaro, 13 Litchfield, 12 Thame, 11 Caqusau, 10 F Smith, 9 McParland; 1 Iyogun, 2 Wright, 3 Davison, 4 Prowse, 5 Van Der Mescht, 6 Kemeny, 7 Graham, 8 Chick.
Replacements: 16 R Smith, 17 West, 18 Kundiona, 19 Benson, 20 Pearson, 21 James, 22 Hutchinson, 23 Pater.