Bath storm into the top four whilst Bristol put 50 on Gloucester

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Bath's Sam Underhill on the charge against Exeter Chiefs.

Bath's Sam Underhill on the charge against Exeter Chiefs.

Bath claimed an impressive 41-24 bonus-point win over Exeter Chiefs on Saturday to move into the top four on the standings.

Only two of the hosts’ tries were scored in the first period through Alfie Barbeary and Cameron Redpath with Finn Russell only converting one of the two. Ben Spencer opened the scoring just after half-time before Joe Cokanasiga, a second for Barbeary and Will Butt rounded out the try-scoring.

It was a different story for the visitors who scored a first-half try through Henry Slade, who also kicked three conversions and a penalty in total. Stu Townsend and Ehren Painter were the other try-scorers in a losing cause.

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The Devon side pressed hard early on but Bath used a shortened line-out to send Barbeary rampaging from his own 22, with Sam Underhill in support.

Jack Yeandle killed the ruck and yet another Exeter penalty set up a line-out pick-and-drive which saw Barbeary touch down for a seventh-minute try although Russell’s kick was just wide.

The visitors worked hard to create space out wide but Spencer was invariably on hand to clear the danger when attacks broke down, usually because Underhill was such a poaching threat at the breakdown.

Bath’s second try came on 20 minutes from Redpath who had nearly broken through on the right and was on hand again moments later as Spencer slipped him a pass in heavy traffic. The Scottish centre still had to step past full-back Tom Wyatt to reach the posts and Russell added the conversion for a 12-0 lead.

The response was immediate. Exeter made the most of a line-out in the home 22 as fly-half Harvey Skinner put Slade through a gap, leaving the Bath defence flat-footed. The England centre had no trouble converting his own try.

The third Bath try came two minutes after half-time, started and finished by the impeccable Spencer, breaking on the short side of a scrum on his own 22. Cokanasiga was on his shoulder and made another 30 metres before passing back inside to his skipper who touched down in the corner. Russell’s kick was wide.

While playing a penalty advantage, Max Ojomoh might have scored too but was held up. This time Russell chipped over a penalty for a 20-10 lead.

Exeter, still full of fight, went to the other wing where Townsend wriggled his way through the Bath forwards to score a try converted again by Slade and suddenly it was a three-point game.

But not for long. Exeter lost Townsend to a yellow card and there was further punishment as a fizzing left-hand pass by Russell presented Cokanasiga with a run-in on the right for the try bonus point just after the hour mark and the British and Irish Lion this time converted.

Barbeary stole away from a ruck in the Exeter 22 for the fifth try on 66 minutes and that was quickly followed by a sixth, claimed by Butt who had only just come on from the bench.

Bristol Bears put Gloucester to the sword

Bristol had much the better of early possession and territory in their 51-26 win but basic handling errors at crucial times prevented them from capitalising.

Their pressure eventually told when Gloucester lost possession at a five-metre scrum for Max Malins to collect a well-judged chip ahead from Virimi Vakatawa to score.

Callum Sheedy missed the conversion before turning down a kickable penalty in favour of more attacking options and it paid dividends when Ellis Genge finished off a succession of forward drives.

Straight from the restart, Thacker burst away on a 50m run into the opposition 22 and another Bristol try looked likely but Rich Lane was forced into touch just short of the line.

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The visitors suffered two further blows in quick succession as prop Mayco Vivas departed with a leg injury before Harry Randall darted away from a ruck to score the Bears’ third try.

On the half-hour, the hosts scored their bonus-point try. A neat off-load from Kyle Sinckler sent Dan Thomas through a huge gap and skipper Harding was on hand for the scoring pass.

Sheedy converted and added a penalty before Gloucester conjured up their first attack in the 38th minute.

A burst from Ruan Ackermann gave Louis Rees-Zammit an opportunity and the wing won a line-out in the Bristol 22.

Gloucester secured possession from it and Rees-Zammit powered past two defenders to force his way over to leave his side trailing 29-7 at the interval.

Within 40 seconds of the restart, the home side extended their advantage when Randall quickly took a penalty before kicking ahead and winning the race to touch down for an excellent solo try.

Bristol’s sixth came from Jo Batley, who muscled over from close range before the home side took their foot off the gas by replacing both half-backs, Sheedy and Randall.

Gloucester immediately responded with three tries in quick succession with Rees-Zammit flying over in the corner before Ford-Robinson twice powered over from close range.

Gloucester reduced the deficit to 15 points but Ruan Ackermann was yellow carded for collapsing a driving maul which enabled Harry Thacker to seal victory from a line-out drive, with a last-minute penalty from Williams putting the icing on the cake.

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