In a nail-biting finale at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, Bath Rugby emerged victorious over Leicester Tigers with a close 23-21 win, securing their first Premiership title in nearly three decades.
The match began cautiously, with neither side finding their rhythm. Leicester opened the scoring through scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, capitalizing on a powerful driving maul, and fly-half Handre Pollard converted to give them the early advantage. Bath struggled initially due to errors, with only a Finn Russell penalty adding to their tally.
As the half progressed, Bath gained momentum. Tigers captain Julian Montoya was sin-binned for a head-on-head tackle on Ted Hill, providing Bath an opportunity. Hooker Thomas du Toit powered over the try line, earning Bath a 10-7 lead. Russell’s consistent kicking extended the lead to 13-7 at halftime.
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The second half saw Bath intensify their pressure. Max Ojomoh scored a crucial try following a 60-meter intercept break by Finn Russell, who also converted and added two penalty goals, contributing 13 points in total. Despite this, Leicester fought back fiercely, scoring two tries in the final ten minutes and narrowing the gap to two points. However, a costly unchallenged box kick by Ben Youngs allowed Bath to control the final possession and secure the championship.
Player insights reveal standout performances underpinning Bath’s success. Full-back Tom de Glanville impressed with his aerial dominance and tactical ball-handling, earning a 7 rating. Max Ojomoh shone with his robust defense and crucial try, rated 8. Fly-half Finn Russell overcame early struggles to deliver 13 points, showcasing his trademark flair and leadership, also rating 8.
Scrum-half and captain Ben Spencer orchestrated the game’s tempo effectively to earn an 8, while hooker Tom Dunn’s relentless work in the set pieces and breakdowns earned him a 7. Prop Beno Obano overcame past final disappointments to provide vital forward power, rated 7.
Flankers Guy Pepper and Ted Hill were instrumental in defense and breakdown, scoring 8 and 7 respectively, with Pepper’s dynamism nearly turning into a spectacular try.
Centre Cameron Redpath’s diligent defense and midfield nuisance earned a 7, while winger Will Muir dominated the aerial contests and defense with an 8 rating. Lock players Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels provided physicality and vital tackles, rated 8 and 6 respectively.
Overall, Bath Rugby combined resilience, tactical discipline, and individual brilliance to triumph in this historic final, ending a 29-year wait and completing a remarkable treble-winning season.