Bath Rugby’s dream of reaching a third straight Premiership Final fell apart as they squandered a commanding 26-10 lead to lose to Exeter Chiefs in an intense semi-final clash.
Bath exploded out of the blocks with early tries from Beno Obano and Thomas du Toit, sandwiched between a Henry Slade penalty. Exeter responded before halftime with a brilliant solo try from Christ Tshiunsza.
Bath struck back immediately after the break with quickfire tries from Joe Cokanasiga and Henry Arundell, stretching the lead to 26-10. However, Exeter’s fresh front row changes swung momentum towards the Chiefs. Tries from Ben Hammersley, Greg Fisilau, and the match-winner Ethan Burger turned the tide.
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Despite a dramatic final onslaught from Bath, including near tries and a potential drop goal, Exeter held on to secure their place in the final, leaving the Rec and Bath supporters devastated.
Rugby writer Sam Jess rated the Bath players as follows:
15 Tom de Glanville – 7
Showed excellent aerial control and strong defense early on but grew shaky in the second half with noticeable errors.
14 Joe Cokanasiga – 7
Produced a standout try showcasing pace and power; however, a controversial yellow card disrupted Bath’s momentum at a crucial moment.
13 Ollie Lawrence – 7
Despite recent poor form, Lawrence demonstrated intensity and creativity, including a key assist but struggled defensively as the match wore on.
12 Max Ojomoh – 6
Energetic and skillful, contributing well in attack but lacking the incisiveness to break Exeter’s defence consistently.
11 Henry Arundell – 6
Quiet start but delivered a breathtaking try; his handling errors under the high ball hampered Bath’s control of the kicking game.
10 Santi Carreras – 3
A disappointing performance marked by handling errors and missed opportunities, including a vital failed drop goal; lacked the leadership Bath desperately needed.
9 Ben Spencer (c) – 6
Controlled the match and executed smart kicking but was less effective as the game progressed, struggling to inspire urgency in the closing stages.
1 Beno Obano – 6
Dominant in the scrum and powerful in carries during the first half but faded as Exeter’s replacements came on.
2 Tom Dunn – 6
A solid return from suspension with strong tackling and set-piece work but was outmatched as Exeter gained momentum.
3 Thomas du Toit – 7
Marked his final appearance at the Rec with a commanding scrum presence and a powerful try, though he too was challenged by Exeter’s fresh front row.
4 Quinn Roux – 8
A standout performer returning from suspension, Roux was instrumental in disrupting Exeter’s pack and securing turnovers.
5 Charlie Ewels – 6
Reliable in the basics and effective in neutralizing Exeter’s lineout threats.
6 Josh Bayliss – 7
Strong carrying and effective lineout work, highlighted by a key cover tackle.
7 Sam Underhill – 6
Energetic at breakdowns but made costly errors and left the field injured early in the second half.
8 Alfie Barbeary – 7
Brutal ball carrier up to Underhill’s injury, after which his impact lessened and fatigue showed late in the match.
Replacements:
16 Kepueli Tuipulotu – 6
Positive contribution in carrying and lineouts, nearly scoring a try, but had crucial moments of lost ball.
17 Francois van Wyk – 5
Struggled in the scrum and couldn’t halt Exeter’s momentum late in the game.
18 Vilikesa Sela – 4
Stabilized the scrum briefly but will be remembered for being held up over the line in a decisive moment.
19 Ross Molony – 5
Failed to stem Exeter’s forward momentum after coming off the bench.
20 Ted Hill – 6
Limited impact following his introduction in the second half.
21 Bernard van der Linde – 5
Some bright moments late on but lacked confidence to influence the finish.
22 Cameron Redpath – 6
Added physicality but could not shift the tide.
23 Miles Reid – 6
Provided additional power but was unable to slow down Exeter’s rapid ball movement.