Bath Rugby started their Premiership semi-final against Exeter Chiefs with great promise, racing to a 26-10 lead thanks to early tries from Beno Obano, Thomas du Toit, Joe Cokanasiga, and Henry Arundell. Their powerful start looked to set the stage for a third successive Premiership final appearance.
Bath’s fullback Tom de Glanville impressed in the opening half, showcasing excellent aerial control and defensive work, earning a solid 7/10 rating. Winger Joe Cokanasiga continued his best season yet with a superb try, despite a late yellow card for a controversial deliberate knock-on that proved costly. Centre Ollie Lawrence recovered from prior struggles to inject intensity and deliver a key assist but faded in the second half.
Max Ojomoh marked his 100th Bath appearance with energy and flair, while Henry Arundell produced a stunning footwork try, though his control issues under the high ball later hurt Bath’s campaign. Unfortunately, fly-half Santi Carreras endured a disappointing outing, committing costly errors and missing crucial opportunities, receiving the lowest rating of 3.
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Captain and scrum-half Ben Spencer managed the game well early on but lost control as the pressure mounted. The front row of Beno Obano, Tom Dunn, and Thomas du Toit dominated initially, with du Toit scoring his first Premiership try for Bath, but they were eventually overwhelmed by Exeter’s introductions off the bench.
Back-row players Quinn Roux and Josh Bayliss were influential in the forward exchanges, with Roux earning an 8/10 for his powerful presence and turnovers. However, Sam Underhill’s promising breakdown work was undone by handling errors and a season-ending injury forced him off early in the second half. Alfie Barbeary showed strength carrying the ball but tired towards the end.
Bath’s replacements struggled to match the intensity, with Vilikesa Sela’s holding up on the try line allowing Exeter to snatch victory. Despite a late surge and close chances, including a near-try by Kepueli Tuipulotu, Bath were denied a spot in the final. The defeat at the Rec stunned both players and supporters who had expected their side to maintain their winning streak.
The ratings reflect a tale of two halves: a dominant Bath side in the first, undone in the second by Exeter’s second-half resurgence and key individual mistakes under pressure. Bath’s Premiership finals streak ends here, but the individual performances hint at potential for redemption in seasons to come.