Exeter Chiefs edged out Bath Rugby 23-14 at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, overcoming the defending PREM Rugby Cup champions with two late tries. Despite the clear experience gap on paper, the match was a fiercely competitive battle.
The first half was scrappy and affected by wet conditions, with both sides struggling to maintain possession. A Thompson Cowan try helped Bath lead 7-6 at halftime, thanks also to two Henry Slade penalties for Exeter.
In the second half, Exeter took control but needed late tries from Joseph Dweba and Stephen Varney to seal the victory. Bath kept fighting back with scores from Dan John and Louie Hennessey.
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Here’s a closer look at the performances from the young Bath side:
15 Jack Woods - 6
The fullback covered plenty of ground and showed excellent pace, though some of his kicking felt rushed early on.
14 Austin Emens - 6
Emens delivered vital defensive hits and ran a smart support line to help set up Bath’s opening try.
13 Louie Hennessey - 7
The Welsh centre put in a powerful defensive effort despite injuring his shoulder, capped by a brilliant try. A true class act in midfield.
12 Will Butt - 6
Butt was solid defensively and linked well with Hennessey, assisting in the try that highlighted their partnership.
11 Tyler Offiah - 6
Struggled initially under the high ball but improved noticeably as the match progressed.
10 James Linegar - 7
Making his professional debut, Linegar was composed under pressure and set up Bath’s second try with a smart play.
9 Tom Carr-Smith - 6
Showed ambition with sharp kicks but made crucial late errors that contributed to Exeter’s win.
1 Scott Kirk - 6
Active in the forwards but lost momentum when Exeter’s replacements entered the game.
2 Jasper Spandler - 6
Did his basics well and created attacking opportunities, including a key pass that led to Bath’s try.
3 Kieran Verden - 6
Reliable overall but had some struggles during scrum contests against Exeter’s experienced pack.
4 Harvey Cuckson - 6
Put in a steady defensive effort helping frustrate Exeter’s forwards, particularly in the closing stages.
5 Ewan Richards - 7
The captain led by example with strong maul defense and numerous key interventions.
6 Ethan Staddon - 6
Provided solid defense and physicality, although penalized for not rolling away at a crucial moment.
7 Thompson Cowan - 7
Showed impressive speed and tenacity, scoring a well-worked try and consistently disrupting Exeter.
8 Arthur Green - 7
Worked hard in tough conditions and laid the groundwork quietly before exiting with a head injury assessment.
Replacements:
16 Max Pearce - 7
Held his own against Exeter’s powerful bench forwards.
17 Mikey Summerfield - 4
Faced difficulties and picked up a yellow card for repeated scrum infringements.
18 Alfie Griffin - 4
A tough task against seasoned front-row opposition.
19 Will Jeanes - 4
A dropped lineout early on proved costly as Exeter capitalised soon after.
20 Alex Ridgway - N/A
21 Neil le Roux - N/A
22 Charlie Griffin - N/A
23 George Timmins - 6
Added energy and strength off the bench but had limited impact with ball in hand.
Despite the defeat, several young Bath players showed promising signs and the team’s character shone through in challenging conditions.