Bath Rugby delivered a champion’s performance, securing a bonus point 28-16 win against Sale Sharks on a rainy Friday night at a packed Recreation Ground in Round Two of the 2025/26 Gallagher Premiership.
The scoring started early with Henry Arundell crossing for his third try of the season, capitalizing on a stunning break by Ollie Lawrence from inside his own half. Cameron Redpath added to the tally before Beno Obano powered over the line for his second try just before halftime.
Despite two drop goals and a penalty from Sale’s George Ford in the first half, Bath maintained control. Sale Sharks’ Nathan Jibulu sparked hope with an early second-half try, but it was Bath’s stand-in fly-half Max Ojomoh who sealed the bonus point with a late try, skillfully grounding a chip kick from Ben Spencer, sending the drenched home crowd into celebration.
Rugby writer Ben Baker evaluates the individual performances of Bath’s players:
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Tom de Glanville - 7
Battled conditions at fullback with cool composure, expertly handling high balls and launching incisive runs, despite a dropped catch that inadvertently led to Bath’s first try.
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Joe Cokanasiga - 6
Quiet overall but showed relentless effort on chase from restarts, though the ball rarely reached his wing.
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Ollie Lawrence - 8
emphatically marked his return with strong carries, a crucial line break, and the assist for Arundell’s try, highlighting his power and agility.
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Cameron Redpath - 7
A steady performance with solid distribution and tackling, capped by an impressive swan dive to score his season’s opener.
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Henry Arundell - 8
A standout once again, Arundell’s pace, agility, and power troubled Sale’s defense, capping the team’s opener with a try that showcased his dynamic skill set in front of England coach Steve Borthwick.
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Max Ojomoh - 8
Faced a stern test against George Ford but excelled, notably in the second half with accurate kicking and defensive grit, clinching the bonus point try.
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Ben Spencer - 9
A captain’s masterclass: precise box kicks, a pivotal 50-22 kick, and flawless goal kicking (four conversions) earned him player of the match honours. His final assist secured Bath’s bonus point.
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Beno Obano - 7
Scored two tries in as many games this season, expertly exploiting narrow gaps despite occasional scrum struggles.
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Tom Dunn - 7
Dominated lineout duties and was effective in tight phases, delivering a dependable performance.
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Vilikesa Sela - 5
Faced early scrum challenges but recovered to win penalties, showing resilience stepping up in the absence of senior props.
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Quinn Roux - 7
A tireless workhorse at the breakdown, contributing vital turnovers before leaving with an injury.
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Charlie Ewels - N/A
Exited in the ninth minute due to a knee injury.
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Ted Hill - 7
Shifted to second row mid-game, applying physicality at breakdowns before sustaining an injury late in the match.
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Guy Pepper - 8
Turned around a shaky start to dominate the breakdown with turnovers and impactful tackles, showcasing the tenacity required for international selection.
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Miles Reid - 8
Commanding ball carrier who punched through multiple tackles and set up Redpath’s try with a key line break.
Replacements:
Dan Frost (6), Francois van Wyk (7), Archie Griffin (6), Ross Molony (7) — Molony’s vital interception prevented a critical Sale try.
Sam Underhill (7), Tom Carr-Smith (6), Will Butt (7), Alfie Barbeary (7).
Bath’s performance was a blend of strategic kicking, physical dominance, and tactical awareness, setting a strong tone early in the Gallagher Premiership season and giving head coach Steve Borthwick plenty to admire.