In a highly charged West Country derby at Kingsholm, Bath Rugby edged past Gloucester Rugby 30-26 on Friday night, reclaiming top spot in the Gallagher Premiership—if only momentarily. The electric atmosphere set the stage for a match packed with intensity and skill.
Bath opened the scoring quickly with an electrifying try from young Welsh winger Louie Hennessey, marking the fastest try of the season for the side. However, Gloucester responded swiftly as Val Rapava-Ruskin leveled the score within minutes.
At one stage, Bath found themselves trailing 21-7, with Gloucester’s Charlie and Seb Atkinson crossing the try line. Yet Bath refused to back down, as Dan Frost and Guy Pepper’s tries closed the gap to 21-19 by halftime.
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The Cherry and Whites extended their lead with Afo Fasogbon’s try early in the second half, boosting Gloucester’s advantage to seven points with under thirty minutes left on the clock.
Bath’s resilience shone through as Finn Russell, after a relentless 17-phase assault near Gloucester’s try line, capitalized on a loose ball to score his first Gallagher Premiership try of the season. Although Russell missed the conversion, he redeemed himself by landing two crucial penalties late in the game—his final kick sealing a four-point lead and silencing the passionate Shed crowd.
Renowned rugby journalist Ben Baker analyzed the individual performances from Bath Rugby’s squad:
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Santi Carreras – 8
The Argentine fullback was a standout, undeterred by the hostile Kingsholm crowd. He executed several incisive breaks and maintained excellent territorial control with his kicking, forging a strong partnership with Finn Russell. This marked his best performance in Bath colours to date.
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Louie Hennessey – 7
The 21-year-old wing demonstrated his flair, scoring Bath’s fastest try of the season. His agility troubled Gloucester’s defense in the first half before the hosts effectively limited his influence after the break.
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Chris Harris – 5
The experienced centre contributed to much of Bath’s attacking play with sharp passing but was marred by key handling errors, notably one just before halftime that potentially cost Bath a crucial try.
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Max Ojomoh – 5
Ojomoh showcased solid playmaking abilities but found it difficult to assert himself amid Gloucester’s forward dominance. While linking well with Hennessey and Harris, he registered fewer impactful carries and was overshadowed by Gloucester’s Seb Atkinson.
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Will Muir – 6
Quiet in the opening 40 minutes, Muir’s impact grew significantly in the second half as he gained more possession, making powerful runs and successful kick chase attempts.
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Finn Russell – 7
Russell delivered a masterclass in fly-half play, contributing 15 points through his try and penalties. He orchestrated Bath’s backline with flair and composure, particularly excelling in the closing stages by converting pressure into points and silencing the Kingsholm crowd.
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Ben Spencer – 6
Bath’s captain showed leadership and defensive solidity, efficiently managing the ruck and distributing the ball with minimal errors throughout his 70 minutes on the pitch.
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Francois van Wyk – 5
Van Wyk had a challenging day, sometimes sluggish to the breakdown, within a Bath side that struggled with discipline.
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Dan Frost – 4
Although Frost made energetic breaks and scored a try from a rolling maul, his lineout accuracy was a liability throughout, with multiple throws stolen or not straight. Furthermore, he faced criticism for going high on several tackles defensively.
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Archie Griffin – 4
The tighthead prop showed early physicality but was undone by handling mistakes and a few costly offside penalties.
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Ted Hill – 6
In his first start at lock in over a year, Hill had a tentative opening period, notably at the lineout and in conceding penalties. However, he found rhythm in the second half, contributing to a pack performance that gradually subdued Gloucester.
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Quinn Roux – 6
Roux had a mixed outing amid Bath’s general struggles in the lineout but remained a reliable presence in the pack.
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Josh Bayliss – 7
Bayliss delivered a consistent effort at the breakdown and defense, even taking on scrum-half duties briefly. His strong tackles nearly prevented a crucial Gloucester try late in the contest.
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Ethan Straddon – 6
The 23-year-old was industrious in rucks and secured a valuable turnover, although he remained relatively quiet with ball in hand.
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Arthur Green – 5
Green made an immediate impact at the breakdown but exited early due to a blood injury after a significant midfield burst.
Replacements:
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Kepueli Tuipulotu – 7
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Beno Obano – 6
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Thomas du Toit – 6
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Charlie Ewels – 7
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Guy Pepper – 8
Pepper injected fresh energy off the bench, scoring a try and dominating the breakdown with multiple turnovers. His influence was somewhat overshadowed by a late yellow card, which many deemed harsh.
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Bernard van der Linde – 5
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Henry Arundell – 6
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Sam Underhill – 7
Bath’s performance, while not flawless, demonstrated grit and determination to secure a vital derby victory and temporarily top the Gallagher Premiership standings.