Bath Rugby 42 Sale Sharks 24 – Gallagher Premiership result as Joe Cokanasiga brace secures bonus point win

Bath Rugby moved back into second in the Gallagher Premiership as a Joe Cokanasiga brace helped them to a 42-24 bonus point victory against Sale Sharks.

After the Six Nations break Bath got off to a perfect start as full-back Matt Gallagher scored the opening try after just three minutes.

However, Sale have top four aspirations of their own and Manu Tuilagi span his marker to give the visitors a four-point lead.

Cokanasiga opened his account on the 22nd minute mark to put Bath back ahead and they held their advantage into half-time, thanks partly to a try-saving Ben Spencer challenge to deny Arron Reed.

Two minutes after the break Sale were back ahead after Tom Roebuck made a fine interception and crossed the whitewash.

Cokanasiga scored his side’s third try to put Bath back ahead only for Sam Dugdale to pull Sale back into the match as momentum continued to swing.

However, Bath were not to be denied with the boot of Finn Russell increasing their lead before Tom Dunn sealed the bonus point and Ollie Lawrence crossed for a fifth try.

With five matches remaining try scorer Joe Cokanasiga says that Bath Rugby have now got confidence.

“The team that does well in the run-in is the team that gets together the fastest,” he told TNT Sports.

“We’re so good at focusing on what is coming up. Everything was just clicking and there was a connection between the backs and the forwards.

“I think there’s still more from me to come. I need to keep on improving and that’s what I’m doing.

“Confidence is a big thing for us and it gives us confidence heading into a match against Harlequins next weekend.”

As the 2023-24 season heads into its exciting conclusion, TNT Sports will bring you every match from the Investec Champions Cup, as well as a selection of matches from the Gallagher Premiership Rugby and EPCR Challenge Cup.

That’s full-time as Cokanasiga comes inches away from scoring his hat-trick but the ball is dead and the game is over.

It’s a fine bonus point victory for Bath who had to work very hard for the bonus point win.

Russell off for Schreuder and Du Toit off for Griffin

That’s the last piece of action for Tuilagi who is replaced by James for Sale Sharks

Bath put the game out of sight with the ball coming out of a ruck to Muir who holds off two men before releasing Lawrence to finish.

Russell misses the conversion

Bath have made another change as Reid comes on for Underhill

Spencer kicks deep into the whitewash allowing Lawrence a run between two Sale back. However, he can’t connect to ground the ball

Bath seal as bonus point as a line-out five metres out results in Dunn crossing amid a ruck of bodies as Redpath forces a vital opening to seal the bonus point.

Russell is perfect again from the tee to increase his side’s lead

The hosts make another change in this electric game as Obano is replaced by Schoeman

Russell with a penalty kick in front of the posts to put the hosts ahead.

Moments later Bath come forward again and Russell opts for a drop-kick to increase their lead to 30-24.

Bath looked destined to score as a Spencer kick to the corner looks to have found Muir over the whitewash. However, Carpenter grabs the ball from over the shoulder to prevent the try.

Sale make two changes as McIntyre is on for Wiese and Bamber on for O’Flaherty.

Bath see Roux replaced by Stooke

Tuilagi drives the ball forward and when he is brought down the ball comes back out and along the line to Dugdale in space to cross.

Ford kicks the extras to level the match.

Bath have been reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes due to a head-to-head contact challenge. The decision is made after a TMO review

Taylor on for Harper; Opoku-Fordjour is on for Warr.

Russell releases Lawrence who is held up, but the ball is recycled and Cokanasiga finds a gap to score.

Russell adds the extras with his third conversion of the day from a tight angle.

This beauty of a try gave Bath the half-time lead

Russell kicks from under the posts as Bath draw level at 17-17 with all to play for in this second half