Bath Rugby concluded their pre-season preparations with a dominant 53-5 triumph over a youthful Glasgow Warriors side at Old Anniesland.
With numerous internationals making their returns, Bath surged to a 22-0 lead by halftime. The first half featured tries from Bernard van der Linde and Joe Cokanasiga, alongside a brace from Santi Carreras. Despite making several substitutions, Bath maintained their momentum, extending their lead with two tries from Cam Redpath, a second from Bernard van der Linde, and further scores from Ollie Lawrence and Claudius Wheeler. Glasgow’s sole try was crossed by Alex Bryden.
Here is how rugby writer Sam Jess assessed Bath’s individual performances:
15. Santi Carreras – 7 Making his first appearance of the season, Carreras displayed composure in challenging conditions. The Argentine back secured two first-half tries, the first capitalising on a chip kick from Finn Russell and the second following a neat assist from the Scot, showcasing his excellent timing and line-running.
14. Joe Cokanasiga – 6 Cokanasiga was solid throughout, with some key defensive stops despite occasionally being caught narrow. He finished well to score in the first half and provided a clever offload to assist Cam Redpath’s try after the break.
13. Ollie Lawrence – 7 Lawrence initially appeared a bit rusty in wet conditions but was instrumental in defence, making impactful tackles and reading the game well. His influence grew as the match progressed, culminating in a well-earned try.
12. Max Ojomoh – 7 Ojomoh showed glimpses of attacking brilliance but sensibly kept his play simple amid the rain. Defensively, he was robust, helping to repel Glasgow’s advances. In the second half, he shifted to the wing, executing a clever cross-field kick that led to a Bath try.
11. Tom de Glanville – 6 De Glanville had limited ball-carrying opportunities but was reliable when called upon, particularly in defence.
10. Finn Russell – 9 Russell’s return to Bath was nothing short of sensational, with his skillful handling and precise offloads instrumental in Bath’s early dominance. Despite the heavy rain, his performance was smooth and assured, sparking the team’s fast start.
9. Bernard van der Linde – 8 The scrum-half managed the wet conditions expertly and exhibited excellent tactical kicking. His dynamic sniping run earned him a deserved try.
1. Beno Obano – 8 Obano’s presence was crucial, securing two turnover scrum penalties and providing strength to disrupt Glasgow’s mauls.
2. Dan Frost – N/A Frost featured briefly but impressed with his physicality during his 20 minutes on the pitch.
3. Will Stuart – 8 Playing his first start since December 2025, Stuart dominated the scrum, drawing multiple penalties in Bath’s favour.
4. Ted Hill – 7 Hill was reliable in lineouts and disrupted opposition throws effectively.
5. Charlie Ewels (captain) – 7 Ewels led by example, delivering powerful tackles that unsettled Glasgow.
6. Guy Pepper – 6 Pepper was quieter than usual but made an impact at the breakdown.
7. Sam Underhill – 7 Underhill was aggressive defensively, delivering bone-crunching tackles that hindered Glasgow’s attack.
8. Josh Bayliss – 6 Bayliss provided his usual combative presence, though he might have desired more ball touches.
Replacements:
- Ieuan Davies (7): brought pace and strong attacking runs, though his kicking was inconsistent.
- Ciaran Donoghue (7): delivered solid distribution and helped generate attacking phases.
- Tom Dunn (6): maintained scrum and lineout stability after coming on.
- Austin Emens (6): offered speed and commitment in both attack and defence.
- Charlie Griffin (8): one of Bath’s standout substitutes, adept under the high ball and physically imposing carries.
- Cameron Redpath (7): reinforced midfield defence and attack, scoring two tries.
- Miles Reid (7): impactful in defence and at the breakdown.
- Claudius Wheeler: scored a try late on, showing composure.
Other replacements made notable contributions, though some had limited game time.
Bath’s comprehensive performance, highlighted by Finn Russell’s stellar homecoming, sets a positive tone as the season approaches.