Bath vs Harlequins result - Bath become Gallagher Premiership Christmas number 1s with bonus-point win

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Christmas came early for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership as they outclassed Harlequins to secure a bonus-point victory and cement themselves at the top of the table over the festive period.

The fly-half duel between Marcus Smith and Finn Russell ended in a score draw but Joe Cokanasiga was the true star of the show.

The big wing looks back to his best with the Six Nations on the horizon and was unlucky not to finish with a hat-trick, touching down two tries with one disallowed.

After a tight first half, the game-changing damage was dealt by Bath at the start of the second half, with two tries inside nine minutes stretching the gap to more than two converted tries and Harlequins could never recover.

Harlequins slip to sixth in the table after Sale, Northampton and Exeter all won over the weekend and just missed out on the bonus point as Smith couldn’t convert James Chisholm’s last-gasp try - his kick slammed into the post on a gusty day in Somerset to the delight of the home crowd.

It wasn’t quite a perfect result though, Alfie Barbeary departed clutching his right arm after suffering a ferocious double tackle and both Johan van Graan and Steve Borthwick will be sweating on his fitness with the Investec Champions Cup and Six Nations coming up in the new year.

Player of the match Joe Cokanasiga was buzzing to be a table-topper when he spoke to TNT Sports after the win!

They've missed out on the bonus point! It wasn't the toughest conversion for Smith but his kick slams into the inside post and bounces out, Quins leave empty-handed.

And he does it! Chisholm's put in a cracking shift in defeat and he reached out to touch down and bring his side within touching distance of that bonus point.

After Dombrandt is pulled away from another fight, Smith lines up the all-important conversion.

Harlequins are still playing for the bonus point here and Esterhuizen could've send George Hammond over there. But Quins still have the ball just a few yards away...

Bath have the ball on the Quins' 22 once again and a fifth try would really confirm a mauling. Can they do it?

We asked, they answered! Bath get the maul going and once again Quins had no response, with Reid touching down for the bonus point score before a frustrated Dombrandt starts a scuffle.

Russell can't get the conversion with his last action of the game as Orlando Bailey trots on, Bath should see the game out from here though.

Quins have barely been able string any phases together and that was the case again. Russell takes a drop-goal that just falls short, but he recovers well to launch a 50-22 to just five metres out! He even squared up to Smith as he prevented the quick lineout too!

Cokanasiga looked set for a hat-trick score but Quins cover quickly, before Smith dominates Russell in the kicking battle to give his side the ball just outside Bath's 22.

Of course as soon as that stalemate is declared, Ben Spencer pings a 50-22 to give his side another superb attacking platform!

All those changes have disrupted the game somewhat and we're into a bit of stalemate as the final ten minutes approach. A reminder that Bath only need one more score for the bonus point.

Very worrying indeed. Barbeary attempted to play on but his right arm is clearly still in pain after that Collier hit earlier in the half, he immediately seeks medical attention in the dugout and Jaco Coetzee is off.

And Harlequins' only replacement outside back is on, Oscar Beard replaces Will Joseph.

And why was Repdath on the field? Bath switched out their entire front row with Juan Schoeman, Tom Dunn and Will Stuart a starting-quality trio to bring on. And Max Ojomah's shift at inside centre is up too, with Redpath on.

And they've more work to do, as Harlequins look to breach the home 22.

Dombrandt busts through into Bath's 22 but only finds birthday boy Cameron Redpath with a gift as he tries to put Marcus Smith through to score.

Redpath hacks it forward and Ollie Lawrence almost chaess it down, but Quins clear well and Bath will go again from their own half.

It's fairly hammering down now in Somerset, and Harlequins have switched both second rows too.

That's more route one! Harlequins finally nail a 5-metre linout and Stephan Lewies players a huge helping hand in clearing a route to the line for ex-Bath hooker Jack Walker. Smith's conversion sneaks pas the left-hand post by a literal hair's breadth too.

Both props and the dynamic Chandler Cunningham-South are off for Quins, who selected a 6-2 bench split.

He was denied by Care's cynical penalty, but that just made Joe Cokanasiga angry. He started Bath's latest attack with a thumping carry into Lynagh before every defender's nightmare: Cokanasiga receiving the ball in open space.

He almost sends Lynagh into the River Avon with his step off the right foot then just powers through Smith like the fly-half isn't there and crashes over, with Russell adding the extras.

That's devastating for both sides. Joe Launchbury's leg got stuck under Ewels in a ruck and he looked in agony before recieving treatment - though amazingly he may be able to continue.

As he recovers, Barbeary takes slightly longer to shake off a stinger to his right wrist after a hit from Will Collier, but he'll be called up once again here as both sides pack down just 10 metres away from Quins' line...