Bath Rugby returned to winning ways with an emphatic 69-12 thrashing of Newcastle Red Bulls at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, strengthening their push for a home semi-final and officially securing a top-four finish.
Bath surged to a commanding 31-0 halftime lead thanks to five first-half tries. Ted Hill, Cameron Redpath, and Josh Bayliss all crossed the line, while Henry Arundell impressed greatly with a brace. The visitors started the second half strongly despite Bath being reduced to 14 players after Tom Dunn received a 20-minute red card for a head-to-head collision. Newcastle managed to get on the scoreboard first in the second period through Alex Hearle, who later completed his brace.
It wasn’t until the 60th minute that Bath added to their tally, then surged forward with six more tries. The introduction of Max Ojomoh ignited the hosts’ energy, sparking a wave of intensity. Arundell secured a hat-trick and even a fourth try, while Santi Carreras claimed two tries himself. Dan Frost also made an impact off the bench with a solo try, and Chris Harris scored Bath’s 11th and final try against his future team.
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Here’s a breakdown of individual performances by Bath Rugby players:
15 Santi Carreras – 7
Solid under the high ball and grew into the game, culminating in two well-taken tries late on.
14 Joe Cokanasiga – 7
Mixed afternoon in tricky conditions; controlled some aerial balls well but struggled with bouncing ones. When in possession, he showed his power breaking through Newcastle’s defense.
13 Chris Harris – 6
A rare league start saw Harris solid defensively and linking effectively with Russell and Redpath. He finished strong with Bath’s final try.
12 Cameron Redpath – 7
Key contributor both attack and defense. Delivered a sublime offload for Arundell’s try and finished well himself following a clever line.
11 Henry Arundell – 9
Back to his best with four tries on display. Demonstrated blistering pace and sharp reactions throughout, making a decisive impact on the match.
10 Finn Russell – 7
A mixed performance with improved passing accuracy and attacking intent, although his kicking was below par. Linked brilliantly with Ojomoh late in the game to devastating effect.
9 Ben Spencer – 7
Reliable throughout with accurate kicking and solid passing close to the breakdown.
1 Beno Obano – 7
Dominant in tight play, providing Bath with strong carries and front-foot momentum.
2 Tom Dunn – 6
Returned to the lineup with strong lineout work but saw his influence curtailed by a 20-minute red card.
3 Thomas du Toit – 7
Set a powerful platform in scrums and stepped up in lineout throwing with a 50% success rate during Dunn’s absence.
4 Ted Hill – 7
A physical presence who held his width well and scored Bath’s opening try.
5 Charlie Ewels – 7
Celebrating his 200th appearance, Ewels was instrumental in set-pieces and played a key role in Bath’s early score.
6 Josh Bayliss – 8
Exhibited excellent hands and pace, contributing to two tries including a dynamic support run.
7 Guy Pepper – 7
Carried strongly in close quarters and made a significant break to set up a try. Improved discipline at the breakdown yielded turnovers.
8 Miles Reid – 7
Maintained his reputation as a defensive stalwart, applying heavy pressure on Newcastle.
Replacements:
16 Dan Frost – 8
Delivered an excellent cameo with a stunning solo try and impressive lineout accuracy.
17 Francois van Wyk – N/A
18 Vilikesa Sela – 7
Showed impact off the bench and contributed effectively to scrum dominance.
19 Ross Molony – N/A
20 Sam Underhill – 6
Brief appearance which included a strong impact but a penalty concession.
21 Tom Carr-Smith – 7
Brought energy off the bench and maintained attacking momentum with well-timed support runs.
22 Max Ojomoh – 9
A standout substitute whose dynamic interplay with Russell sparked Bath’s late onslaught, generating multiple tries.
23 Alfie Barbeary – 7
Injected energy in the final phase, aiding Bath’s dominant finish despite the comfortable scoreline.