Category: Rugby

Bath and their supporters could leave Sandy Park with smiles beaming under the Exeter sunshine on Saturday evening after a 26-14 bonus point win over the Chiefs taking them a step further to securing a place in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.

Chiefs, perhaps fatigued after a heavy drubbing by Toulouse last weekend, lacked the clinical edge and fire that they’ve trademarked this season.

Bath meanwhile, even without Finn Russell, controlled the game superbly and picked up a well-deserved five points.

They edge even closer to a first playoff appearance in four years.

Bath propelled themselves past Saracens into second place, putting eight points between them and fifth-placed Bristol Bears. Bath kept Exeter entirety scoreless for the first 40 minutes, heading into half time with a 14-0 lead.

Toulouse got the better of Exeter because they’re a vastly better side. But today, Exeter were their own worst enemies, handing the game and momentum over to Bath multiple times today and the visitors took advantage of that.

They were the dominant side for much for the first half an hour, with Alfie Barbeary, who had a storming game, crashing over in the corner off a lineout to open the scoring. Ben Spencer added his side’s second right before half time.

A lax Chiefs defence allowed Charlie Ewels to skip through the lineout and his offload to Spencer saw the nine go straight for the corner. Spencer was rightly the game’s man of the match, picking up some of the playmaking duties left behind by Finn Russell’s injury.

Predictably, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Josh Hodge were the standout players for the hosts, particularly in the first half. The pair combined numerously down the wing, but a mix of inaccuracy and Bath’s stellar defence muted their efforts.

Exeter got one back finally through Olly Woodburn after their heavy carries made space for the winger out wide.

But it was almost instantly cancelled out by Max Ojomoh, leaping on a Tom Cairns mistake just short of his own line to nab the ball and score. Minutes later, Miles Reid added to the lead after being on for all of about 20 seconds, dotting down under the posts off the back of a big push from the lineout.

The hosts threatened to make the last 10 minutes a feisty one as replacement nine Stuart Townsend darted over in the 71st minute. Exeter Bath’s defence stood imperiously and shut the Chiefs out from getting near a bonus point.

Talking Point: Can Bath go all the way without Finn Russell?

Orlando Bailey played a good game today and Ben Spencer picked up the playmaking duties superbly. But will it be enough if Finn Russell doesn’t make it back from injury?

Exeter are a formidable side but it’s easy to forget they weren’t realistically meant to be in playoff contention this year given their inexperience and the players they lost.

With Spencer as the lead, Bath resorted to a more Saracens-esque style, with the scrum-half seeking to control the game through the boot and win the game from there.

It worked today, but it will it be enough to beat the dazzle of Northampton, or even Saracens themselves?

Player of the Match – Ben Spencer

Fine, fine performance from the ane who took Bath’s reigns in the absence of Russell. The scrum-half was outstanding in attack, defence, and from the boot. He’ll be crucial to Bath securing a playoff spot and their playoff ties.

There were a number of fine performers on show. Julian Montaya and Jasper Wiese were fine performers for the Tigers, but Mitchell took control after the break when Northampton forced themselves in front. Then, when the stars outside him came onto the field, he put his foot on the accelerator so his side could attack at full speed and kill the contest.

Exeter Chiefs: Sio 6, Yeandle 6, Painter 5, Pearson 5, Jenkins 6, Roots 6, Vermeulen 6, Fisilau 6, Cairns 4, Skinner 6, Woodburn 7, Devoto 6, Slade 6, Feyi-Waboso 7, Hodge 6,

Replacements: Norey 6, Southworth 6, Street 6, Dunne 6, Tshuinza 6

Bath: Obano 7, Dunn 8, Stuart 7, Roux 7, Ewels 8, Hill , Underhill 7, Barbeary 8, Spencer 9. Bailey 7, Muir 7, Ojomoh 7, Lawrence 7, Cokanasiga 6, Gallagher 6.

Replacements: Faiva 6, Du Plessis 6, Schreuder 6, Reid 7.

Bath and their supporters could leave Sandy Park with smiles beaming under the Exeter sunshine on Saturday evening after a 26-14 bonus point win over the Chiefs taking them a step further to securing a place in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.

Chiefs, perhaps fatigued after a heavy drubbing by Toulouse last weekend, lacked the clinical edge and fire that they’ve trademarked this season.

Bath meanwhile, even without Finn Russell, controlled the game superbly and picked up a well-deserved five points.

They edge even closer to a first playoff appearance in four years.

Bath propelled themselves past Saracens into second place, putting eight points between them and fifth-placed Bristol Bears. Bath kept Exeter entirety scoreless for the first 40 minutes, heading into half time with a 14-0 lead.

Toulouse got the better of Exeter because they’re a vastly better side. But today, Exeter were their own worst enemies, handing the game and momentum over to Bath multiple times today and the visitors took advantage of that.

They were the dominant side for much for the first half an hour, with Alfie Barbeary, who had a storming game, crashing over in the corner off a lineout to open the scoring. Ben Spencer added his side’s second right before half time.

A lax Chiefs defence allowed Charlie Ewels to skip through the lineout and his offload to Spencer saw the nine go straight for the corner. Spencer was rightly the game’s man of the match, picking up some of the playmaking duties left behind by Finn Russell’s injury.

Predictably, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Josh Hodge were the standout players for the hosts, particularly in the first half. The pair combined numerously down the wing, but a mix of inaccuracy and Bath’s stellar defence muted their efforts.

Exeter got one back finally through Olly Woodburn after their heavy carries made space for the winger out wide.

But it was almost instantly cancelled out by Max Ojomoh, leaping on a Tom Cairns mistake just short of his own line to nab the ball and score. Minutes later, Miles Reid added to the lead after being on for all of about 20 seconds, dotting down under the posts off the back of a big push from the lineout.

The hosts threatened to make the last 10 minutes a feisty one as replacement nine Stuart Townsend darted over in the 71st minute. Exeter Bath’s defence stood imperiously and shut the Chiefs out from getting near a bonus point.

Talking Point: Can Bath go all the way without Finn Russell?

Orlando Bailey played a good game today and Ben Spencer picked up the playmaking duties superbly. But will it be enough if Finn Russell doesn’t make it back from injury?

Exeter are a formidable side but it’s easy to forget they weren’t realistically meant to be in playoff contention this year given their inexperience and the players they lost.

With Spencer as the lead, Bath resorted to a more Saracens-esque style, with the scrum-half seeking to control the game through the boot and win the game from there.

It worked today, but it will it be enough to beat the dazzle of Northampton, or even Saracens themselves?

Player of the Match – Ben Spencer

Fine, fine performance from the ane who took Bath’s reigns in the absence of Russell. The scrum-half was outstanding in attack, defence, and from the boot. He’ll be crucial to Bath securing a playoff spot and their playoff ties.

There were a number of fine performers on show. Julian Montaya and Jasper Wiese were fine performers for the Tigers, but Mitchell took control after the break when Northampton forced themselves in front. Then, when the stars outside him came onto the field, he put his foot on the accelerator so his side could attack at full speed and kill the contest.

Exeter Chiefs: Sio 6, Yeandle 6, Painter 5, Pearson 5, Jenkins 6, Roots 6, Vermeulen 6, Fisilau 6, Cairns 4, Skinner 6, Woodburn 7, Devoto 6, Slade 6, Feyi-Waboso 7, Hodge 6,

Replacements: Norey 6, Southworth 6, Street 6, Dunne 6, Tshuinza 6

Bath: Obano 7, Dunn 8, Stuart 7, Roux 7, Ewels 8, Hill , Underhill 7, Barbeary 8, Spencer 9. Bailey 7, Muir 7, Ojomoh 7, Lawrence 7, Cokanasiga 6, Gallagher 6.

Replacements: Faiva 6, Du Plessis 6, Schreuder 6, Reid 7.