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The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Bath fight back to beat rivals Bristol in thrilling Premiership semi-final
Bath are heading back to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham for another crack at the Premiership final after running in four tries in a 34-20 victory over Bristol Bears thanks to a powerful second-half performance. But the hosts had spent an anxious first half trying to quell the challenge of their nearest neighbours, whose unique sense of adventure lit up their play-off semi-final. Bristol were 13-6 in front at the break and it could have been more. The try of the match was scored by their lock James Dun after Fiji wing Kalaveti Ravouvou set off from his own line, leaving four Bath defenders in his wake. Guy Pepper started in the Bath back row in the absence of the suspended Sam Underhill, while Cameron Redpath replaced Will Butt at centre. England prop Ellis Genge was recalled to the Bristol pack along with Dun and centurion Steven Luatua. A fast and furious first half opened with a penalty to Bristol which was quickly reversed for some ill-advised verbals. When Bath then laid siege to the visitors' line, Genge was the man who held up the ball to earn a relieving drop-out. Both sides were probing for any advantage they could find and the first points went to Bristol as AJ MacGinty punished Pepper's infringement at a ruck with a straightforward penalty after 12 minutes. When hooker Gabriel Oghre broke clear, Bath had to defend desperately before Ben Spencer eased the anxiety with a long kick upfield. But Ravouvou, collecting the ball near his own line, somehow evaded a quartet of would-be tacklers and the home defence was soon spreadeagled at the other end. Lock Dun eventually cut a simple line to the posts and MacGinty added the conversion for a 10-0 lead. Ravouvou was soon sent to the sin bin for preventing a quick-tapped penalty by Spencer, allowing Finn Russell to pull back three points for Bath but MacGinty immediately replied to make it 13-6 at the break. Losing scrum-half Harry Randall to a shoulder injury just before half-time had not helped Bristol's cause and a Ted Hill try converted by Russell straight after the break brought Bath level. Joe Cokanasiga swooped on a teasing kick ahead by Tom de Glanville to score Bath's third try shortly after to put them ahead for the first time. When Will Muir finished off a prolonged period of pressure by touching down in the left corner and Max Ojomoh added a fifth on the hour, Bath were back in command. With Russell faultless from the tee, the score was suddenly 34-13. Bristol were not about to lie down but very little luck was going their way and they were twice held up over the Bath line. With six minutes left, Benhard Janse van Rensburg finally stretched out to score in the corner and McGinty converted. One concern for Johann van Graan and his men ahead of next weekend's return to Twickenham was Russell limping off after treatment to his left leg.
The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Bath beat Bristol to seal return to Premiership final
BATH BOOKED THEIR place in a second successive English Premiership final after coming from behind to beat southwest rivals Bristol 34-20 on Friday. Regular season table-toppers Bath, who've already won the European Challenge Cup this season, were 13-6 behind at half-time, with Bristol leading through two AJ MacGinty penalties and a try from James Dun. Advertisement All Bath had to show for their efforts in the opening 40 minutes at their Recreation Ground home were two penalties from Scotland fly-half Finn Russell. But they went ahead early in the second half as Ted Hill and Joe Cokanasiga scored tries before Will Muir and Max Ojomoh crossed Bristol's line to leave the Bears with a gap they never looked like overcoming despite Bernhard Janse van Rensburg pulling a try back. Bath, beaten in last season's Premiership final by Northampton, will face either Leicester or Sale — who play on Saturday — at Twickenham on 14 June as they bid to win their first league title since 1996. – © AFP 2025
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Bath book Premiership Rugby final berth with 34-20 win over Bristol
BATH, England - Bath scored four second half tries to rally from a seven-point deficit at the break to beat West Country rivals Bristol Bears 34-20 at a jubilant Recreation Ground on Friday and book a place in this season's Premiership Rugby final. A try from lock James Dun gave Bristol a deserved 13-6 lead at halftime in the semi-final, but when the visitors lost scrumhalf Harry Randall to a shoulder injury late in the opening period, the momentum swung the way of their hosts. Bath seized control with a blistering opening 20 minutes to the second half as they scored tries through loose-forward Ted Hill, wings Joe Cokanasiga and Will Muir, and centre Max Ojomoh, to take the game away from the visitors. Bath were beaten finalists last year following defeat to Northampton Saints and will hope to lift the trophy for the first time in 29 years when they face either Leicester Tigers or Sale Sharks in the June 14 final at Twickenham. "It's huge. We're one step closer, but we'll come in on Monday and go again," Bath hooker Tom Dunn told TNT Sports. "We trust the process. We had a real calm halftime. "They are a good team but we stayed in it and we knew we'd wind it up. It's never over 'til it's over." Bath finished bottom of the Premiership table three seasons ago but have been revived under coach Johann van Graan and were worthy winners having stepped up several gears in the second half. Bristol will rue yellow cards for Kalaveti Ravouvou and Kieran Marmion, but never recovered from the loss of Randell, which took the tempo out of their game and allowed Bath to play to their strengths. Bath-born Dun crossed for the only try of the first half for Bristol following an electric break from his own 22 by Ravouvou and Van Graan will have been relieved his side only trailed by seven points at the break on the balance of play. Whatever was said in the changing room at halftime, Bath came out a changed side and it took just a minute into the second period for Hill's try to level the scores. Bath were rampant and scored four tries in the third quarter of the game to end it as a contest as they seek a third trophy of the season having already lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup. Benhard Janse van Rensburg scored a late consolation try for Bristol, who are left still chasing the Premiership Rugby title. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Mint
4 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
Rugby-Bath book Premiership Rugby final berth with 34-20 win over Bristol
BATH, England, June 6 (Reuters) - Bath scored four second half tries to rally from a seven-point deficit at the break to beat West Country rivals Bristol Bears 34-20 at a jubilant Recreation Ground on Friday and book a place in this season's Premiership Rugby final. A try from lock James Dun gave Bristol a deserved 13-6 lead at halftime in the semi-final, but when the visitors lost scrumhalf Harry Randall to a shoulder injury late in the opening period, the momentum swung the way of their hosts. Bath seized control with a blistering opening 20 minutes to the second half as they scored tries through loose-forward Ted Hill, wings Joe Cokanasiga and Will Muir, and centre Max Ojomoh, to take the game away from the visitors. Bath were beaten finalists last year following defeat to Northampton Saints and will hope to lift the trophy for the first time in 29 years when they face either Leicester Tigers or Sale Sharks in the June 14 final at Twickenham. "It's huge. We're one step closer, but we'll come in on Monday and go again," Bath hooker Tom Dunn told TNT Sports. "We trust the process. We had a real calm halftime. "They are a good team but we stayed in it and we knew we'd wind it up. It's never over 'til it's over." Bath finished bottom of the Premiership table three seasons ago but have been revived under coach Johann van Graan and were worthy winners having stepped up several gears in the second half. Bristol will rue yellow cards for Kalaveti Ravouvou and Kieran Marmion, but never recovered from the loss of Randell, which took the tempo out of their game and allowed Bath to play to their strengths. Bath-born Dun crossed for the only try of the first half for Bristol following an electric break from his own 22 by Ravouvou and Van Graan will have been relieved his side only trailed by seven points at the break on the balance of play. Whatever was said in the changing room at halftime, Bath came out a changed side and it took just a minute into the second period for Hill's try to level the scores. Bath were rampant and scored four tries in the third quarter of the game to end it as a contest as they seek a third trophy of the season having already lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup. Benhard Janse van Rensburg scored a late consolation try for Bristol, who are left still chasing the Premiership Rugby title. (Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
