1
Bath restored a six-point lead at the Gallagher Premiership summit by beating Gloucester 42-26 in a thrilling 10-try clash.
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Finn Russell pulled the strings with a 17-point haul as Bath moved further towards securing a home play-off tie.
There was also a try-scoring return to action for England flanker Sam Underhill, who suffered an ankle injury in early January and missed the entire Guinness Six Nations.
Underhill featured as a second-half substitute, helping his team close out a bonus-point victory secured through touchdowns from Russell, centre Max Ojomoh, flanker Guy Pepper, prop Will Stuart and his fellow front-row forward Thomas du Toit, before he crossed with eight minutes left.
Russell kicked all six conversions, and play-off contenders Gloucester had to be content with a losing bonus after failing to score in the second half.
Tomos Williams, Seb Blake, George Barton and Jack Clement scored their tries, while Santi Carreras added three conversions as Gloucester remained on the play-off fringe with six league games left.
Bath opened their account after just seven minutes, being rewarded for patience in phase-play after skipper Ben Spencer went close as Pepper went over from close range and Russell’s conversion made it 7-0.
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Gloucester were soon level, though, inspired by the counter-attacking vision of Carreras, who will join Bath on a three-year deal next season, that created a flowing move and saw prop Afo Fasogbon deliver a scoring pass to Clement, with Carreras converting.
The visitors looked to play with trademark width and pace, but they found it hard work at close quarters as Bath claimed a second try after 18 minutes when Russell sent Ojomoh over from five metres out and converted to restore a seven-point advantage.
Bath were tough to stop from repeated excursions inside Gloucester’s 22, and there was a formality about their third try, which was scored following an attacking lineout by Du Toit before Russell maintained his 100 per cent conversion success-rate.
But Gloucester responded magnificently, shredding Bath’s defence in scintillating fashion by scoring two tries in two minutes.
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Strong midfield work from Chris Harris and Seb Atkinson created a try for Williams – Carreras had his conversion attempt charged down by Bath wing Will Muir – before Williams turned provider.
His weaving break and off-load to Blake saw the hooker dive over – Carreras converted – yet back came Bath with the seventh touchdown of thrilling first half as Russell scored and added the extras.
Inevitably, though, Gloucester were not finished and Carreras’ long pass allowed Barton a stroll over before the fly-half’s conversion made it 28-26 at the interval.
Gloucester withstood a prolonged spell of Bath pressure after they saw wing Christian Wade yellow-carded foe a technical offence, but Bath were ultimately not to be denied.
A scoreless third quarter was mostly played inside Gloucester’s 22 before Bath struck for a fifth try when Stuart took his team past 30 points and Russell converted.
Underhill’s try then finished the game as a contest, with Gloucester unable to rediscover their first-half cutting edge after being dominated in terms of possession and territory.
Gallagher Premiership
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Bath
12
10
2
0
51
2
Bristol
12
8
4
0
45
3
Leicester
12
7
4
1
40
4
Harlequins
12
6
5
1
36
5
Gloucester
12
6
6
0
36
6
Sale
12
7
5
0
34
7
Saracens
12
6
6
0
34
8
Northampton
12
5
7
0
26
9
Exeter Chiefs
12
2
10
0
16
10
Newcastle
12
2
10
0
9
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England have incredible flankers but they shouldn't forget about Underhill. He's world class.