Bath Rugby surged back to the summit of the Gallagher Premiership after Finn Russell’s late penalties secured a dramatic 30-26 victory over Gloucester in an electrifying West Country derby at Kingsholm.
Despite Coach Johann van Graan making 11 changes following Bath’s convincing Champions Cup triumph over Edinburgh, the reigning Premiership champions fought back from a 14-point deficit to reclaim top spot from Northampton, who face Sale on Saturday.
Gloucester, who have only one league win this season, led 21-7 midway through the second quarter, fueled by tries from Val Rapava Ruskin, Charlie Atkinson, Seb Atkinson, and Afo Fasogbon, with George Barton contributing three successful conversions. Bath, however, was undeterred.
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Bath’s bench, boasting five England internationals, provided the resilience needed. Tries from Louie Hennessey, Dan Frost, Guy Pepper, and Finn Russell kept the visitors in contention. Russell, the Scotland international, also added two crucial conversions and nailed two penalties in the dying minutes to secure a bonus-point win.
The match ignited quickly: Bath opened scoring just 135 seconds in when coordinator Ben Spencer set up Hennessey for the first try, which Russell converted. Gloucester responded fiercely, with Barton’s powerful runs and precise kicking capitalising on their opportunities to build a significant lead.
Despite Gloucester’s pressure and physicality, Bath clawed their way back before halftime. Pepper’s try and Russell’s conversion closed the gap to 21-19, setting up a tense second half.
The battle intensified with strong defensive stands and strategic substitutions from van Graan. Bath pressed relentlessly, and although a few narrow escapes for Gloucester, including a vital knock-on by Thomas du Toit, kept the match close, Bath’s determination paid off.
When Pepper received a yellow card, Gloucester briefly gained momentum, but a sin-bin for Gloucester prop Ciaran Knight swung the balance back. Russell’s precise penalty kicks in the final moments delivered the decisive points, ensuring Bath’s hard-fought triumph.
This thrilling victory not only demonstrated Bath’s depth and composure under pressure but also reinforced their position as Premiership frontrunners.