Bath pick up another valuable bonus point after playing their part in entertaining BUCS Super Rugby derby at Exeter’s Sandy Park
A strong second half at Exeter’s Sandy Park saw the University of Bath men’s 1st XV collect another important four-try bonus point in their pursuit of a BUCS Super Rugby home quarter-final.
The visitors found themselves trailing 24-7 at half-time of Wednesday’s South West derby, Freddy Rossigneux finishing off a wonderful flowing move to score Bath’s try. That, plus Raff Weston’s penalty, briefly cut the gap to 10-7 before Exeter struck twice in the closing minutes of the half.
Bath dominated the opening stages of the second period, though, and Rossigneux’s clever offload sent Alfie Griffin over for a try before replacement Fraser Riddoch dived over from close range. Weston converted the first try as Exeter’s lead was reduced to 24-19 with 52 minutes on the clock.
The hosts quickly responded with a converted try of their own but Bath got back within striking distance as Ludo Kolade (pictured top) ran in his first try since returning from a long-term injury but Exeter scored again moments later to seal a hard-earned 36-24 success.
Watch the match again here:
Despite the defeat, Bath – sponsored by Team Bath partners Bath Building Society and Rengen – remain seven points clear of fourth-placed Exeter heading into the final four games of the season, starting with a home match against Leeds Beckett at the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 12th February (6.30pm free to watch).
Match stats
Exeter starting XV: 1 Joshua Mann, 2 Robert Gaffan, 3 Tom Gulley, 4 Lucas Dorrell (cc), 5 Alfie Bell, 6 Finn Worley Brady, 7 Jack Forsythe, 8 Sebastian Driscoll (cc); 9 Freddie Skinner, 10 Lewis O’Grady, 11 Noah Fenton, 12 Woody Pugh, 13 Harrison Hall, 14 Kian Gentry, 15 Seth Findlay. Replacements: 16 Joshua MacAndrew, 17 Jamie Miller, 18 Isaac Godfrey, 19 James Boylan, 20 Mawgen Warren, 21 William Smears, 22 Dylan Power, 23 Dewi Thomas.
Tries: Hall, Findlay, Fenton, Gulley, Smears.
Conversions: O’Grady 4.
Penalties: O’Grady.
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Max Pearce (c), 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Albert Dmitriev, 5 Max Mayor, 6 Tom Hilton, 7 Will Keylock, 8 Archie Hurford; 9 Tom Newman, 10 Raff Weston, 11 Tom Hughes, 12 Ludo Kolade, 13 Chris Streater, 14 Alex Clayton, 15 Freddy Rossigneux. Replacements: 16 Yujian Zou, 17 Oban Baird, 18 Jai Sahi, 19 Jimmi McNally, 20 Iwan Coyle, 21 Fraser Riddoch, 22 Jamie Howick, 23 Oli Sedgwick.
Tries: Rossigneux, Griffin, Riddoch, Kolade.
Conversions: Weston 2.
Picture credit: BUCS Sport.
