Bath Rugby’s impressive display at the Recreation Ground saw them edge out Bristol Bears 33-24, boosting their hopes of reaching the PREM Cup semi-finals. The match was highlighted by standout performances, including braces from Charlie Griffin and Arthur Green, who each scored two tries, fueling Bath’s strong finish.
Bristol Bears struck first with Max Pepper’s try on the 24th minute, but Bath quickly responded just three minutes later when Arthur Green crossed the line. Austin Emens’ conversion leveled the scores. Bath pushed ahead with Kieran Verden assisting George Timmins for a try, only for Bristol to reply swiftly through Gabriel Ibitoye, maintaining a tight contest. The Bears held a narrow 16-13 lead at halftime thanks to a penalty from Sam Worsley.
Charlie Griffin’s two second-half tries, sparked by a remarkable break from Max Ojomoh, extended Bath’s lead to nine points. The Bears, however, refused to back down with captain Harry Randall scoring off a scrum to close the gap to two points. Bath restored their advantage with Arthur Green’s second try, converted by Will Roue, sealing the victory.
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Rugby analyst Ben Baker provides an in-depth review of Bath’s individual performances:
Austin Emens (15) delivered mixed moments, with an early try-saving tackle but was caught out by a forward pass. Charlie Griffin (14) impressed with his involvement and two crucial tries, showcasing excellent link-up play, particularly following Ojomoh’s break. Max Ojomoh (13) shone after moving to fullback, using his power and defensive skills to great effect and orchestrating one of the season’s best tries.
Will Butt (12) maintained a high work rate, consistently threatening the Bears' defense but blotted his card with a few missed tackles. Will Muir (11) contributed with effective runs and kicks, while Will Roue (10) overcame an early setback with composure, managing the game and delivering key goal kicks. Bernard van der Linde (9) energized the team with dynamic play, although he uncharacteristically faltered at times with errors.
Front row players Scott Kirk (1) and Kieran Verden (3) were relentless, both playing nearly 75 minutes with strong ruck presence and ball handling. Dan Frost (2) was a powerhouse in loose play despite some lineout struggles. Ewan Richards (5) and Ethan Staddon (6) both exhibited toughness and consistent defensive work. Thompson Cowan (7) had a solid, if shortened, performance before an injury curtailed his game. Arthur Green (8) dominated physically and personally contributed two critical tries.
Among the replacements, George Timmins (20) made a notable impact by scoring and assisting in a key try after coming on early, while Kepueli Tuipulotu (16) also performed solidly.
This victory marks a significant step forward for Bath Rugby as they pursue semi-final qualification, powered by a collective effort and individual brilliance.