Bath Rugby head of rugby Johann van Graan lauded his team’s impressive second-half display as they surged to a commanding 50-14 victory over Newcastle Red Bulls at Kingston Park on Sunday, marking Round Seven of the 2025/26 Gallagher Premiership.
The first half was a tightly contested affair. Ollie Leatherbarrow opened the scoring for Bath, followed by two tries from Dan Frost. Newcastle’s Amanaki Mafi responded with a try of his own, keeping the score close. Archie Griffin’s powerful try just before halftime put Bath ahead 19-14 at the break.
However, the game changed dramatically after the interval. In the 54th minute, van Graan made the bold decision to introduce all eight substitutes simultaneously. This strategic move overwhelmed Newcastle, as Bath scored 31 unanswered points in the latter half.
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Francois van Wyk and Will Butt crossed the try line shortly after the changes, setting the tone for a relentless finish. As the match progressed, Tom de Glanville, Ben Spencer, and Ted Hill each added tries, sealing Bath’s emphatic win and propelling them to the top of the Premiership standings.
Reflecting on the win, van Graan said, “It was a satisfying performance. Newcastle showed the quality and competitiveness they’ve had all season, and we respected that. The first half was tight, but after halftime, we executed our plans perfectly and dominated the second half with a 31-0 run. Scoring 50 points away is a real testament to the players, the squad depth, and the coaching staff. I’m very pleased with the five points.”
Van Graan also highlighted the strength of his bench, which included seven internationals and young talent Alfie Barbeary, even with key players like Fin Russell, Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh, Henry Arundell, Charlie Ewels, and Quinn Roux rested.
On the tactic of introducing all eight replacements at once, van Graan explained, “We planned for various scenarios. Newcastle has a history of strong comebacks recently, so once we established a 12-point lead early in the second half, I felt the best way to secure the game was to inject energy and fresh legs with the bench. Those eight changes sparked tries and immediately shifted momentum. There’s no exact science, but this strategy paid off handsomely today.”
Despite Newcastle’s promising start, their resistance faded under Bath’s relentless pressure, leading to a one-sided second half and a convincing away victory for the visitors.