Bath up to second in Gallagher Premiership Rugby table with thumping win over Exeter Chiefs
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Published 02/12/2023 at 18:55 GMT
An Alfie Barbeary brace helped Bath to a convincing 41-24 win over Exeter Chiefs at The Recreation Ground. Bath led by two points at the break but turned on the style in the second half to secure a bonus-point victory that lifted them up to second in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby table. Both teams will feature in the Investec Champions Cup next before returning to Premiership action.
Alfie Barbeary of Bath Rugby celebrates a try from team-mate Cameron Redpath in the first half during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at The Recreation Ground.
Image credit: Getty Images
A dominant second-half display saw Bath move up to second in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby table after a thumping 41-24 win over Exeter Chiefs at The Rec.
The game was evenly poised at the break but four tries in the second period helped Johann van Graan’s side bounce back from last week’s loss to Sale Sharks.
The bonus-point victory means Bath now sit second in the table and level on points with leaders Sale, who were well beaten by Harlequins in the Friday night fixture.
Tries from Alfie Barbeary and Cameron Redpath, and a Finn Russell conversion, put Bath 12-0 ahead after 20 minutes, but the Chiefs swiftly responded.
A converted score from Henry Slade and a 30th-minute penalty reduced Exeter’s deficit to two points at 12-10 at half-time.
The Chiefs came into the contest after a battling performance away to Newcastle Falcons last week but couldn’t repeat those comeback heroics against Bath.
Ben Spencer’s scintillating run of form for Bath continued as the scrum-half spotted a gap on the blindside shortly after the restart and launched a devastating attack with Joe Cokanasiga before finishing comfortably in the corner.
Cokanasiga then touched down in the same corner to secure the bonus point after a trademark Russell miss pass before the Scot added the conversion for a 27-17 lead.
Barbeary then bagged his brace a couple of minutes later and Will Butt’s converted try made it 41-17 to put the victory beyond doubt.
There was time for a late Exeter consolation through Ehren Painter but it wasn’t enough to pinch a bonus point, meaning Rob Baxter’s side slipped to fifth.
Bath take on Ulster next week at home in the first round of Investec Champions Cup group fixtures, while Exeter travel to Toulon.
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