Bath 20-19 Bristol Bears: Gallagher Premiership derby weekend kicks off with a bang as Bath claim narrow win over rivals
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Updated 17/11/2023 at 23:45 GMT
An end-to-end game at the Rec saw Bath claim a narrow 20-19 win over rivals Bristol to kick off the Gallagher Premiership Rugby's derby weekend in thrilling fashion. The home side looked in control in the first half before Bristol stormed back after the break. Ultimately, the boot of Finn Russell saw Bath edge back in front and hang on for the victory to claim West Country bragging rights.
Ollie Lawrence of Bath scores his sides opening try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Bristol Bears Rugby at The Recreation Ground on November 17, 2023 in Bath, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Bath beat rivals Bristol Bears in a thrilling derby at the Recreation Ground, coming out 20-19 winners in a fast-paced encounter.
The home side were by far the better in the first half, inspired by a sparkling showing from Player of the Match Ollie Lawrence.
Lawrence scored one brilliant try and set up another with a barnstorming line break, as Bath responded well to going behind early when Magnus Bradbury bundled over.
The ball was thrown around with wild abandon despite the wet conditions, and that continued after the break, with Bristol coming roaring back into it.
Richard Lane’s try after a cross-field kick was followed by an excellent Max Malins finish, set up in stylish fashion by Gabriel Ibitoye.
A tense finale ensued, with both teams missing kick-able extra points, before Finn Russell slotted a penalty from right in-front of the posts on 70 minutes. And that proved the winning score, as Bath held on for a narrow win against the rivals to move into second in the table.
Talking point – Bath are on the march
Bristol gave the home side a real scare in the second half as their international quality bench made a big impact.
But this was Bath’s night and they are firmly in the mix at the top of the table after another well-earned win.
This team aren’t just winning – they’re brilliant to watch too. The line-breaking quality of Ollie Lawrence and Joe Cokanasiga gives them a real x-factor, with Lawrence particularly shining with the sort of form that should see him heavily involved for England in the new year.
The pack are doing some really decent work in the tight, and the breakdown work is providing quick ball for a creative unit who will take some stopping.
Ben Spencer, Finn Russell and Cameron Redpath – that’s a quality set of players to run the game for any side.
Player of the match – Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
The stand-out player on a night that wasn’t short of impressive performers was Bath’s centre Ollie Lawrence.
Bath’s 13 is playing simply sublime rugby right now, and he was at his best in the first half here.
His combination of speed, power and jinking movement makes him a thoroughly difficult man to stop, and he displayed really classy composure with the ball in hand too.
If he’s not starting for England in the Six Nations then two centres will have done really well to keep him out of the XV.
But as for club level, Lawrence in this sort of form could inspire Bath to something special.
Player ratings
Bristol Bears XV: 15 Rich Lane 8, 14 Piers O’Conor 6, 13 Virimi Vakatawa 7, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg 7, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye 7, 10 Callum Sheedy 6, 9 Harry Randall 6; 1 Ellis Genge 8, 2 Gabriel Oghre 6, 3 Max Lahiff 6, 4 Ed Holmes 6, 5 Joe Batley 6, 6 James Dun 6, 7 Harry Thacker 6, 8 Magnus Bradbury 7
Replacements: 18 Kyle Sinckler 8, 19 Josh Caulfield 6, 20 Dan Thomas 6, 21 Kieran Marmion 6, 22 James Williams 6, 23 Max Malins 8
Bath XV: 1 Beno Obano 8, 2 Tom Dunn 6, 3 Will Stuart 7, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner 6, 5 Charlie Ewels 7, 6 Miles Reid 9, 7 Sam Underhill 6, 8 Jaco Coetzee 6, 9 Ben Spencer 8, 10 Finn Russell 7, 11 Will Muir 6, 12 Cameron Redpath 6, 13 Ollie Lawrence 9, 14 Joe Cokanasiga 7, 15 Matt Gallagher 6
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett 6, 17 Thomas du Toit 7, 18 Johannes Jonker 6, 19 GJ van Velze 6, 20 Alfie Barbeary 7, 21 Louis Schreuder 6, 23 Max Ojomoh 6
Match highlights
6’ – TRY! BATH 0-7 BRISTOL: What a brilliant start from the visitors. Another sustained spell of possession has Bath pinned right back in their 22, and it becomes too much as Magnus Bradbury drives over under the post, allowing the simplest of conversions to add the extra two points. It’s a thoroughly deserved early score.
11’ – PENALTY! BATH 3-7 BRISTOL: Huge work at the breakdown earns Bath a penalty and Finn Russell slots the penalty. There was a short look at a potential head contact in the clear out, but there was little in it.
16’ – TRY! BATH 10-7 BRISTOL: Sublime from Ollie Lawrence. He cuts inside and breaks through the Bristol line with a wonderful step, producing a big hand-off to evade the first covering tackle and then bursting over with a long reach to core. That is high class. Russell makes a simple conversion.
18’ – TRY! BATH 15-7 BRISTOL: Pure brilliance from Bath. It’s Lawrence again who scythes through the Bristol defence, this time from deep. He looks around for support, waits, finds it, and then Spencer is put into space for a long, clear run to the line. Brilliant.
19’ – CONVERSION! BATH 17-7 BRISTOL: It’s an extremely trick angle for Russell out on the left touchline, but he sends a beauty towards the posts, which just drifts back in at the last moment to add the extra two.
51’ – TRY! BATH 17-14 BRISTOL: A Sheedy cross-field kick exploits an acre of space as Lane times his run brilliantly and crosses for a score for Bristol. The conversion is added and we’ve got a game on here!
55’ – TRY! BATH 17-19 BRISTOL: A wave of Bristol momentum continues with another great try. An intercept pass sees the Bears poor forward, with Ibitoye heavily involved. And Malins, who only recently came on, finishes well. The conversion slides wide but Bristol are ahead.
70’ – PENALTY! BATH 20-19 BRISTOL: What a finish we have in store here at The Rec! Bath lead by a single point as Finn Russell slots a simple penalty.
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