Bath Rugby Player Ratings: Dominant 40-15 Victory over Bristol Bears

Bath Rugby delivered an impressive 40-15 victory against West Country rivals Bristol Bears on Saturday, captivating a sold-out Recreation Ground and boosting their standing to second place in the Gallagher Premiership.

Bristol Bears struck first with a try from Kalaveti Ravouvou on the wing. However, Bath quickly responded just after the 10-minute mark when flanker Guy Pepper crossed the line, capitalising on a clever offload from Joe Cokanasiga to Miles Reid. Hooker Gabriel Oghre then showcased his skill by faking a lineout throw and scoring with support from Kieran Marmon, restoring Bath’s lead.

An electrifying double from centres Ollie Lawrence and Cameron Redpath pushed Bath ahead 19-15 by halftime. Despite two denied bonus-point tries due to knock-ons flagged by the TMO around the 50-minute mark, Bath sealed the coveted bonus point when Cokanasiga powered over following a precise cross-field kick from Finn Russell.

The game’s final moments saw further exhilaration with late tries by Sam Underhill and Henry Arundell, cementing Bath’s dominant performance against their fierce rivals.

Rugby writer Ben Baker analyses individual player performances below:

15. Santi Carreras – 7
    Added creativity and positive runs, though a rare handling error inside the 22 led to a dangerous Bristol scrum.

16. Joe Cokanasiga – 8
    Crucial throughout, assisting the opening try and securing Bath’s bonus point try with strength and finesse. Defensively solid, limiting Kalaveti Ravouvou’s impact.

17. Ollie Lawrence – 8
    Strong ball carrier who scored one of Bath’s tries with a clever chip kick assist from Russell. Handling errors slightly marred an otherwise major contribution.

18. Cameron Redpath – 7
    Scored his third Premiership try by exploiting space on the wing and displayed reliable attacking play.

19. Henry Arundell – 7
    Quiet for much of the match but finished emphatically with a thrilling interception try, showcasing blistering pace and footwork.

20. Finn Russell – 7
    After a rocky start with several charged-down kicks leading to Bristol’s opening try, Russell found his groove to deliver key try assists and strong defensive plays.

21. Ben Spencer (C) – 7
    Slow start due to wind conditions but demonstrated excellent vision and distribution throughout to set up tries like Redpath’s.

22. Beno Obano – 8
    A powerhouse in the scrum and at the breakdown, Obano secured turnovers and consistently pressured Bristol’s front row.

23. Tom Dunn – 7
    Celebrated his 251st Bath appearance with flawless line-out throws and solid set-piece contributions.

24. Thomas du Toit – 8
    Dominated scrums and contributed a turnover; narrowly missed out on scoring due to a teammate’s earlier knock-on.

25. Quinn Roux – 7
    Consistent ball carrier and strong defensively, including a key tackle to stop a probable try near his own try line.

26. Ross Molony – 8
    A standout performer at the breakdown, Molony executed crucial tackles and physicality, earning one of his best displays for Bath.

27. Josh Bayliss – 7
    Provided reliable work rate at the breakdown and defensive resilience throughout the game.

28. Guy Pepper – 8
    Scored the opening try and impressed with dynamic play, earning a call-up to the England squad following this performance.

29. Miles Reid – 7
    Good support work and involved in setting up decicive tries, though a late penalty for pushing after the whistle brought a minor lapse.

Replacements: François van Wyk (6), Will Stuart (7), Ewan Richards (6), Sam Underhill (7), Tom Carr-Smith (6), Max Ojomoh (7), Alfie Barbeary (7)

Bath Rugby’s clinical execution and individual brilliance throughout the match underscored their resurgence in the Premiership table, setting them up for an exciting season ahead.