Bath fell just short in their crucial clash against West Country rivals Bristol Bears, losing 21-19 in a match filled with intense moments, electric crowds, and gritty performances at Ashton Gate.
The visitors struck first on the 20-minute mark after breaking through Bristol’s defence amid their intense pressure. Bath doubled their lead minutes later when Ben Spencer’s clever dummy created space for Guy Pepper to dive over and score emphatically.
Bristol responded before halftime, with captain Fitz Harding spinning past Charlie Ewels to narrow the gap. However, Bath restored their advantage when Thomas du Toit powered through two defenders, aided by Ethan Staddon, extending Bath’s lead to 12 points going into the break.
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The second half swung momentum toward Bristol Bears. A penalty try was awarded against Henry Arundell – who earned a yellow card for an intentional knock-on – giving Bristol renewed energy. Max Lahiff then scored the decisive try, putting the hosts ahead by two with 15 minutes left.
Bath’s last opportunity came through Santi Carreras, who bravely attempted a long-distance penalty in the dying seconds, but narrowly missed. With time running out and a bonus point try out of reach, Bath kicked the ball out, sealing their defeat.
Here are the player ratings from a fiercely competitive encounter:
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Santi Carreras – 6
Strong ball carrying and effective kicking, though his late penalty attempt just missed.
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Joe Cokanasiga – 7
Physical and dynamic, excelling under the high ball but caught out once when tackled out of play.
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Ollie Lawrence – 6
Good early impact and link-up play, though marred by a few sloppy passes.
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Max Ojomoh – 6
Tackled hard and linked well, but conceded a crucial penalty and a late handling error.
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Henry Arundell – 5
Bright early signs but faded and gave away a costly penalty try.
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Ciaran Donoghue – 6
Solid defensively and reliable without the flair of the usual starter Finn Russell.
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Ben Spencer – 8
Captain fantastic with quick thinking, astute box kicking, and strong tackles; instrumental in Bath’s tries.
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Beno Obano – 7
Dominated scrums, strong counter-rucking, and solid defensive effort.
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Kepueli Tuipulotu – 6
A promising league debut with physical carries, despite a few line-out errors.
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Thomas du Toit – 8
Powerhouse performance, neutralizing Ellis Genge and scoring a crucial try.
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Ted Hill – 7
Stellar defence including a game-saving tackle and powerful carries.
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Charlie Ewels – 6
Reliable with ball in hand, but struggled defensively at times.
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Ethan Staddon – 7
Impressive ball carries and support play, overcoming early injury concerns.
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Guy Pepper – 7
Scored a vital try and contributed strongly at the breakdown.
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Sam Underhill – 6
Solid as a number eight, with big tackles and effective breakdown work.
Replacements provided mixed contributions, with Dan Frost (4) and Alfie Barbeary (4) less impactful among others.
Despite the narrow loss, Bath’s determined displays and individual performances showed promise as they aim to reignite their play-off ambitions on the road.