Bath Rugby produced a resilient performance to come from behind and secure a 31-26 win at Sale Sharks on Sunday, strengthening their bid for a home play-off spot.
Johann van Graan’s side started strongly with Dan Frost scoring a close-range try following a slick pass from Tom Carr-Smith, giving Bath a 7-0 lead. However, penalty trouble and a yellow card to Joe Cokanasiga saw them reduced to 14 men, allowing Sale to capitalise with three unanswered tries from Tom O’Flaherty, Rob du Preez, and Luke Cowan-Dickie.
The second half saw Bath regroup quickly, with Louie Hennessey and Ethan Staddon crossing the line within 10 minutes of the restart. Sale responded through Tom Roebuck, but Bath’s persistence paid off when Kepu Tuipulotu orchestrated a remarkable counterattack finished by Bernard van der Linde. Alfie Barbeary’s try then put Bath ahead for the first time since early in the match.
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Despite Sale’s late pressure, Bath’s defence held firm, with Santi Carreras making a crucial tackle to force a turnover near the line, sealing the victory.
Here’s a breakdown of Bath’s individual performances by rugby writer Sam Jess:
Tom de Glanville (15) – 6
Reliable under the high ball and steady at full-back in challenging conditions.
Joe Cokanasiga (14) – 6
Showed marked improvement under the high ball and made an impressive offload but costly yellow card hurt the team. Also held up over the line.
Louie Hennessey (13) – 7
Strong debut for Wales evident in powerful runs and a well-deserved try after halftime despite some handling errors.
Cameron Redpath (12) – 7
Defensively solid and effective ball carrier, key in midfield stability during a gritty win.
Will Muir (11) – 7
Outstanding in the air and solid defensively, adapting well in windy conditions.
Santi Carreras (10) – 5
Struggled early with inaccurate kicks and errors but improved markedly in the second half, making crucial plays including a game-saving tackle.
Tom Carr-Smith (9) – 6
Neat game management and effective box kicking into the breeze helped his team’s control.
Scott Kirk (1) – 3
First league start was mixed; good carries but conceded penalties at scrum, replaced at 34 minutes after a referee warning.
Dan Frost (2) – 6
Strong in lineout and dynamite in attack with a try, though received a yellow card amid disciplinary issues.
Vilikesa Sela (3) – 5
Returned from injury but replaced early due to scrum struggles.
Will Jeanes (4) – 7
Imposed physically with powerful carries despite conceding a penalty, a key enforcer in the pack.
Ross Molony (5) – 7
Helped stabilise lineout on return from absence.
Ted Hill (6) – 6
Defensively dependable throughout, limited attacking chances.
Ethan Staddon (7) – 8
Man of the Match candidate, relentless carrier and opportunistic try scorer who sparked Bath’s comeback.
Miles Reid (8) – 6
Captain solid in defence but couldn’t replicate usual breakdown turnovers.
Replacements:
Kepueli Tuipulotu (16) – 9
Most complete performance to date, making crucial lineout throws and initiating a spectacular try with a blistering run and precise kick.
Beno Obano (17) – 8
Came off the bench to transform scrum stability and contributed vital groundwork.
Thomas du Toit (18) – 8
Immediate impact on scrum dominance after replacing Kirk.
Charlie Ewels (19) – 7
Added power and aggression off the bench.
Ewan Richards (20) – 7
Vital lineout steal ignited the winning counterattack.
Bernard van der Linde (21) – 8
Quickly becoming a fan favourite with intelligent support lines and a crucial try finish.
Chris Harris (22) – N/A
Alfie Barbeary (23) – 7
Provided physicality and defensive alertness, scoring a key try.
Bath’s spirited comeback and standout contributions from key players like Tuipulotu and Staddon highlight their growing momentum in the Gallagher Premiership race.