Bath end 29-year wait for Premiership title
Bath held off a resilient Leicester Tigers to win their first Premiership title in 29 years with a narrow 23-21 victory at Allianz Stadium Twickenham to also clinch a 2024-25 treble.The win crowns Bath as champions of England for the seventh time in their history but the first since 1996. Bath have been the trailblazing team in the league this season and went into the final as overwhelming favourites after finishing 11 points clear at the top of the table.Jack van Poortvliet had given Leicester an early lead but Thomas du Toit's try and another from Max Ojomah – created by Finn Russell's show-stopping interception – pushed Bath 13 points clear.Solomone Kata pulled back a crucial try for the Tigers but when departing Leicester legend Dan Cole was sent to the sin-bin with 11 minutes to go, Russell slotted a second penalty.Tigers still had something in the tank and Emeka Ilione's score five minutes from time set up a grandstand finish but Bath held on. Bath also become the first team since opponents Leicester in 2001 to seal a treble after winning the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup earlier this season.More to follow.
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, Du Toit; Roux, Ewels, Hill, Pepper, Reid.Replacements: Annett, Van Wyk, Stuart, Molony, Bayliss, Carr-Smith, Donoghue, Barbeary.Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya (c), Heyes; Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Cole, Rogerson, Ilione, Youngs, Volavola, Perese.Sin bin: Montoya (28 mins), Cole (69 mins)Referee: Karl Dickson
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