Bath Rugby Player Ratings: Richards Steals the Show in Convincing Gloucester Win

Bath Rugby delivered a dominant performance on Saturday to defeat Gloucester Rugby 38-17, marking their seventh successive West Country derby win and extending their unbeaten run this season.

The hosts got off to a flying start when Ollie Lawrence’s clever kick found Henry Arundell on the wing. Arundell’s blazing pace and skillful inside pass set up Tom de Glanville to score Bath’s opening try. Soon after, Tom Dunn added a second try following a powerful driving maul. Arundell continued to influence the game, creating the third try with a cheeky chip kick and quick footwork, setting up Lawrence to burst through Gloucester’s defence for a try of his own.

At the half-hour mark, second row Ewan Richards secured Bath’s bonus point try by cleverly kicking a loose ball over the Gloucester defence and diving over to score his first league try of the season. Although Gloucester managed a late first-half try, Bath responded well in the second half.

The Cherry and Whites aimed for a comeback with tries from Will Joseph, Ollie Thorley, and Ben Loader. However, Bath quelled their hopes through a second try from Richards and a crucial penalty from captain Finn Russell, closing out the win.

Rugby writer Ben Baker reviews individual performances from Bath’s standout squad:

Tom de Glanville – 7
De Glanville opened his scoring account early, finishing an excellent team move. He was consistently reliable with high balls and sharp passing.
Joe Cokanasiga – 7
Although quieter in the first half, Cokanasiga’s impact surged after halftime with powerful carries, narrowly missing a try due to a knock-on. His run left some defensive gaps which Gloucester exploited.
Ollie Lawrence – 8
Lawrence impressed with a strong centre display, scoring a powerful try and delivering an incisive kick to Arundell that led to Bath’s opening score.
Max Ojomoh – 7
Starting alongside Russell, Ojomoh showed strength and good link play but missed a key tackle that allowed Gloucester’s third try.
Henry Arundell – 8
Arundell dazzled with his pace, footwork, and tactical kicking. He was instrumental in Bath’s early tries and remained a constant threat.
Finn Russell (c) – 9
Russell showcased his playmaking brilliance with precise kicking and big tackles, though he spent 10 minutes in the sin bin, during which Gloucester scored twice.
Tom Carr-Smith – 7
Filling in for Ben Spencer, Carr-Smith demonstrated solid box kicking and distribution despite a costly error leading to a Gloucester turnover.
Beno Obano – 7
Obano was effective in tight play and physical carries, contributing to a dominant first-half scrum.
Tom Dunn – 7
Dunn’s second try capped off a strong outing with sturdy play and excellent lineout throwing.
Will Stuart – 7
Returning from Lions duty, Stuart proved dependable at scrum time and breakdowns.
Ewan Richards – 9
Richards was the star of the match, excelling in breakdown contests, stealing a lineout, and scoring two vital tries to shift momentum decisively.
Ross Molony – 6
Molony provided steady lineout work but was overshadowed by partner Richards.
Guy Pepper – 7
The young flanker impressed at the breakdown and with powerful ball carries before exiting near the 50-minute mark.
Sam Underhill – 8
Underhill delivered a high-intensity performance with dominant tackles and aggressive ruck work.
Josh Bayliss – 7
Bayliss adapted well to number eight, showing strength and consistency in breakdown battles.

Replacements also made valuable contributions, notably Miles Reid and Alfie Barbeary, who both earned ratings of 8 for their impactful play.

Bath’s cohesive team effort and standout individual performances, particularly by Ewan Richards, were key to securing this commanding victory over Gloucester, keeping them firmly on track for a successful Premiership campaign.