Bath Rugby bounced back from last week’s surprising defeat to Northampton Saints with a thrilling 33-26 victory over Exeter Chiefs at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.
The hosts grabbed the fastest bonus point of the season in stunning fashion after Exeter’s Campbell Ridl was shown a 20-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on Henry Arundell. Exploiting the numerical advantage, Bath dismantled the 14-man Chiefs with tries from Beno Obano, Alfie Barbeary, Santi Carreras, and Ollie Lawrence, racing to a commanding 26-0 lead within the opening 20 minutes.
Despite the setback, Exeter fought back cleverly, with precision kicking from Henry Slade and relentless forward pressure narrowing the gap to 26-14 at halftime, thanks to tries from Joseph Dweba and Olly Woodburn.
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Bath seemed to regain control shortly after the break as Cameron Redpath sliced through to score a try, unfortunately ruled out for obstruction by Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi. That decision shifted momentum, allowing Exeter to capitalize with two late tries from Greg Fisilau and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, leveling the score and threatening a share of the points.
Yet, the champions showcased their resilience. After a period of inaccuracy and lack of intensity in the second half, Bath rallied with an impressive 38-phase attack culminating in Arthur Green’s powerful try that sealed the victory and demonstrated the side’s championship pedigree.
Here’s a detailed look at the Bath player performances by rugby writer Sam Jess:
15 Santi Carreras - 7
Coming into the starting lineup rarely this season, Carreras injected pace and energy into Bath’s attack, linking well with Louie Hennessey and assisting vital tries. Though underused as a first receiver, he showed promising involvement.
14 Henry Arundell - 5
Following a subdued outing last week, Arundell struggled to make a significant impact and was notably involved in the tackle that prompted a red card, which proved costly.
13 Ollie Lawrence - 6
Recovered from last week’s struggles to show more confidence handling the ball and positioning well, securing a try in the corner. However, he was often isolated and unable to break free.
12 Cameron Redpath - 6
Played strongly in the early stages, combining effectively with Lawrence and contributing to the fast start. His break and setup of the disallowed Spencer try showed his threat, though consistency waned later.
11 Will Muir - 7
Making his first competitive appearance this season, Muir bounced back well from early defensive errors and impressed with his ability under high balls and line breaks, adding valuable width and pace.
10 Finn Russell - 6
Much improved offensively with a simplified game plan and sharper decision-making, but faded noticeably in the second half, losing his influence as the game progressed.
9 Ben Spencer (captain) - 6
Displayed better game management and box kicking accuracy, while also scoring a neat try. His leadership helped steady the side during phases of pressure.
Front Row and Forwards:
1 Beno Obano - 7: Continued strong form near the try line with his fourth try this season.
2 Tom Dunn - 7: Vocal and improved performance from last week, showing flair with attacking offloads despite one penalty.
3 Vilikesa Sela - 7: Solid outing though lacking some of the bite shown by more experienced players.
4 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi - 7: Impressive debut showing physicality and fitting seamlessly into Bath’s forward pack.
5 Ross Molony - 7: A key physical presence with strong defensive efforts.
6 Ted Hill - 7: Demonstrated abrasive ball carrying though less effective at the breakdown than in previous seasons.
7 Guy Pepper - 8: Outstanding workrate and defensive cover tackles, a real handful and crucial when on the field.
8 Alfie Barbeary - 8: Outstanding across defense and attack, with a big hit and a try, though marred by a costly penalty.
Replacements:
16 Kepu Tuipulotu - 7: Recovered well after an early lineout error.
17 Scott Kirk - 6: Made some useful contributions but largely quiet.
18 Thomas du Toit - 6: Reliable but less impactful than last season’s cameo performances.
19 Quinn Roux - 6: Moments of effectiveness but overall limited impact.
20 Sam Underhill - 5: Rare off day, conceding a penalty and failing to influence the breakdown.
21 Tom Carr-Smith - N/A
22 Louie Hennessey - 7: Cameos showed pace and creativity, assisting a key try.
23 Arthur Green - 8: Crucial carry and match-winning try underscored his value off the bench.
Bath showed resilience and flashes of brilliance to secure a vital home win and maintain their Premiership title aspirations.