Bath Rugby’s hopes of reclaiming the top spot in the league were dashed as they suffered another tough loss against Bristol Bears, extending their winless streak in Bristol since 2008. Despite a strong first half that saw Bath take a 19-7 lead through tries from Ollie Lawrence, Guy Pepper, and Thomas du Toit, with Ciaran Donoghue converting twice, Bristol staged a resilient comeback.
The Bears clawed back with a penalty try and a decisive score from Max Lahiff, turning the game on its head at 21-19. Bath’s hopes of sealing a victory came down to the final moments when Santi Carreras’s long-range penalty attempt veered wide, closing the contest.
Bath Head of Rugby Johann van Graan acknowledged that mistakes crucially influenced the result. “If you look at the tries they scored, it came off our mistakes,” he said. “Unfortunately, Henry went for the ball resulting in a penalty try. Then Dan Frost’s knock-on further hurt us.”
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Reflecting on the final penalty decision, van Graan stood firmly behind the choice to attempt the long-range kick, despite some debate whether going for touch might have been better. “It’s a decision the kickers need to make on the field, and I’m comfortable with it,” he explained. “Santi believed he could make it; it had the distance but just missed directionally. We back our players’ decisions fully.”
The match also saw key changes for Bath. Star fly-half Finn Russell was sidelined with a tight calf, prompting Donoghue to step into the pivotal role. Van Graan confirmed the cautious approach: “We had already qualified for the semi-final, and didn’t want to risk anything. We’ll reassess him next week.”
Additionally, England international Sam Underhill switched from his familiar flanker role to number eight for the first Premiership start at that position since 2021. Van Graan praised Underhill’s performance: “We aimed to slow their breakdown, and Sam was excellent at the scrum base and with his carries.”
Looking ahead, Bath face a vital final regular-season game against Leicester Tigers. A victory there would nearly guarantee a home semi-final, although securing a bonus point might be necessary. “We came to win today, but ultimately it’s in our hands,” van Graan concluded. “We’ve got the home advantage next Saturday, and we’ll be ready.”