Bath Rugby’s impressive 2025 campaign ended on a disappointing note as they were outplayed 41-21 by Northampton Saints at the Recreation Ground on Saturday evening.
The first half was frenetic, with both teams scoring two tries apiece amid cold conditions. Tommy Freeman opened the scoring early for Northampton, but Bath responded with powerful tries from Thomas du Toit and Tom Dunn. Northampton hit back with a try from Archie McParland, keeping the sides level at the break.
Bath started strongly after halftime, with du Toit adding a second try to give Bath hope. However, the visitors, despite resting key players, seized control and dominated the second half. They scored four unanswered tries, including a brace from Henry Pollock and a hat-trick for Freeman, silencing the home crowd.
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Rugby writer Sam Jess provides a detailed analysis of the Bath Rugby player performances:
15 Tom de Glanville - 6
De Glanville battled hard but struggled both in attack and defence. A heavy collision near the posts highlighted his commitment despite a difficult outing.
14 Joe Cokanasiga - 4
Cokanasiga endured a tough match, often out of position and missing multiple tackles.
13 Ollie Lawrence - 4
Returning from injury, Lawrence had a frustrating game, dropping several passes and failing to hold on in tackles. A costly dropped pass from Arundell denied Bath a bonus point.
12 Max Ojomoh - N/A
Ojomoh had a subdued presence before leaving the field with a calf injury after thirty minutes.
11 Henry Arundell - 6
After resting last week, Arundell showed flashes of brilliance, including a fine linebreak. However, a costly handling error led to a Northampton counter-attack try.
10 Finn Russell - 5
Russell struggled to influence the game, failing to spark any attacking momentum and unable to exert control.
9 Ben Spencer - 6
Marking his 100th Premiership appearance for Bath, Spencer executed accurate box kicks that troubled Northampton’s back three but couldn’t fully connect with Russell or impact play consistently.
1 Beno Obano - 6
Obano impressed with powerful carries that helped gain ground, although Bath were unable to convert momentum into points.
2 Tom Dunn - 6
Dunn had a shaky start, missing a crucial tackle on Freeman, but recovered with strong carries and scored Bath’s second try from a 5m maul.
3 Thomas du Toit - 7
The departing prop was a standout, scoring two powerful tries and proving invaluable in close quarters.
4 Quinn Roux - 6
Rou took his chances with physicality and clever play but was guilty of conceding penalties that handed Northampton advantageous positions.
5 Ross Molony - 6
Molony maintained physicality but lapses in defence allowed McParland an easy scoring opportunity.
6 Josh Bayliss - 5
Bayliss was tenacious in cover defence but lacked the power to break through on key occasions.
7 Sam Underhill - 6
Underhill’s athleticism shone through with crucial tackles but was let down by numerous avoidable penalties.
8 Miles Reid - 5
Reid was active in rucks but was frequently penalised, undermining Bath’s efforts.
Replacements:
16 Dan Frost - 2
Frost’s night went from bad to worse, receiving a yellow card just 15 seconds after entering the match.
17 Francois van Wyk - 6
Showed physical presence but was often entangled in scrappy play.
18 Archie Griffin - N/A
Unable to make a notable impact.
19 Ted Hill - 5
Hill appeared sluggish and failed to provide the energy needed.
20 Guy Pepper - 6
Displayed grit and determination but was also guilty of conceding penalties.
21 Tom Carr-Smith - N/A
Limited involvement.
22 Santi Carreras - 6
Injected some energy off the bench but couldn’t change the game’s momentum.
23 Chris Harris - 5
Struggled with defensive positioning and appeared lost at times.