Alfie Barbeary continues to impress, earning his third consecutive player of the match award as Bath Rugby displayed relentless hunger to secure a home fixture in the European Champions Cup last 16. On Friday night, Bath delivered a commanding performance, overpowering Edinburgh by more than 50 points.
The game was set from the outset as Bath’s front row—Thomas du Toit, Beno Obano, and Tom Dunn—all found the try line in the first half and contributed to winning a crucial scrum penalty try. The backs took over in the second half, with wing Joe Cokanasiga crossing twice, alongside tries from Ben Spencer, Henry Arundell, and Max Ojomoh.
Barbeary told Premier Sports, “We had a hunger for this game – we wanted a home draw in the knockout stages, so that was the big thing for us. We came out flying and the result showed. We can’t wait for the next round; we’ll see who we get and where the pool ends up and go from there.”
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Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan praised Barbeary’s exceptional form, saying, “Alfie is playing fantastic rugby, carrying the ball exceptionally well and giving us go-forward. Our discipline was really good tonight. We scored four tries in the first half and were clinical, but there is still more in us. Defensively, we kept Edinburgh scoreless in the second half—a great all-round performance.”
Edinburgh, understaffed and worn down by Bath’s relentless pressure, managed a single try through a well-executed running play initiated by full-back Harry Paterson. However, Bath’s dominance was clear as they kept the Scottish side scoreless after halftime.
With gaps opening up, Ojomoh continued to shine, breaking down Edinburgh’s defense and boosting his England credentials ahead of the Six Nations. Cokanasiga’s two tries and Spencer’s contribution under the posts, alongside dotting-down efforts from Arundell and Ojomoh, sealed Bath’s emphatic win.
Despite an accurate 16 points from the tee by Finn Russell, including eight successful kicks, Edinburgh failed to convert key opportunities. Bath’s tactical approach paid off, earning them their first home knockout game in the Champions Cup in 24 years. The last 16 will see them host Saracens, with potential quarter-finals against Northampton Saints or Castres if they advance.
Looking ahead, Bath must prepare to face European powerhouses like Toulouse or Bordeaux, who could challenge their formidable forward pack. Coach Johann van Graan will be focusing on these challenges in the coming months as Bath aims to build on this promising display.