Bath Rugby delivered an emphatic performance on Friday night, overwhelming Bedford Blues 94-14 in a mid-season friendly at the Recreation Ground. The fixture served as an effective tune-up ahead of their Gallagher Premiership return, with coach Johann van Graan wisely selecting a squad packed with talent and experience.
Bath’s superior power and skill were evident from the start, producing an incredible 14 tries against their Championship opponents. Despite Bedford launching a bright early challenge, scoring two tries through hooker Tommy Herman and centre George Worth, Bath quickly took control. By half-time, Ollie Lawrence and Joe Cokanasiga, both returning from Six Nations duty, had crossed the try line.
The second half saw Bath maintain relentless pressure, even as wholesale changes were made. Will Muir, Henry Arundell, and Sam Winters all secured braces of tries alongside Lawrence and Cokanasiga, showcasing the depth of the squad. Additional scores came from Tom Dunn and Alfie Barbeary, who powered through defenses, and Bernard van de Linde and Will Jeanes, who impressed with their attacking craft.
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Standout performances also came from Santi Carreras, returning after a five-week layoff, who impressed both at fullback and fly-half, orchestrating the attack with flair. Max Ojomoh, another notable talent, also made a significant impact, demonstrating why many feel he deserved Six Nations selection.
This fixture highlighted Bath’s readiness for the challenges ahead, foreshadowing the high-tempo, expansive rugby they aim to bring to the Premiership. With the winter months behind them, Bath looks set to enhance their attacking options as they chase further success this season.
Bath Rugby starting XV: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Max Ojomoh, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ewan Richards, 7 Miles Reid (c), 8 Alfie Barbeary.
Notable replacements included Henry Arundell, Will Jeanes, Bernard van der Linde, and Sam Winters.
Bedford Blues starting XV: 15 Louis James, 14 Joe Hill, 13 George Worth, 12 Billy Pasco, 11 Dean Adamson, 10 Michael Le Bourgeois (c), 9 James Lennon, 1 Jamie Jack, 2 Tommy Herman, 3 Ben Griffin, 4 James Bennett, 5 Ian Evans, 6 Kayde Sylvester, 7 Nicholas Finch, 8 Fred Tuilagi.
Match officials: Referee Hamish Grant, with assistant referees Ben Simpson and Iain Kiy.