Saturday’s Prem Rugby sees Bath return to the top of the table after a dramatic win over Exeter Chiefs at The Rec. Bath went 26-0 up in the contest after Exeter were shown a red card with 20 minutes to play, with only Chiefs fighting back to give them little chance to play with six points. Bath pulled out a last minute win.
Last update: 03/01/26 5:48pm
Bath pulled out a last-gasp Prem Rugby win after Exeter Chiefs fought back to level with a 26-0 deficit at the Rec.
Bath lost a 26-point lead in an epic south-west derby but clawed back victory in the most dramatic fashion in the last minute to beat Exeter 33-26 and return to the top of the Prem Rugby table.
Exeter showed great resilience in recovering from a red card at the start of the game to draw level with six minutes remaining, but saved Bath from the dead after a 33-step try from number eight Arthur Green.
The drama began early in the opening half when Henry Arundell was overturned by opponents Campbell Ridl and referee Luke Pearce showed the left wing a red card, reducing the visitors to 14 men after 20 minutes at the Recreation Ground.
Bath, fresh off their shock home defeat to Northampton last weekend, made the most of their numerical superiority by scoring four tries in quick succession.
Prop Beno Obano finished off a line-out catch and drive after Tom Dunn, debutant lock Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi and Alfie Barbeary struck first.
Barbeary won his second penalty and produced his best display since last season’s Prem Championship campaign.
As soon as Finn Russell converted his second, Barbeary made his way upfield from the restart, creating the momentum for Bath to add a third try free to Santi Carreras.
Arundell returned after treatment and as Exeter went on to concede a penalty, Ollie Lawrence dotted a corner to compensate for another close-range drive from a lineout.
Russell went wide with the conversion but Bath had the bonus point and a 26-0 lead.
After being restored to 15 players, Exeter began to fight the breakdown more aggressively and Henry Slade punished the hosts’ indiscretions with a corner.
Hooker Joseph Dweba scored first on a catch and drive, and that attempt was soon followed by Olly Woodburn’s left corner touchdown. Slade converted both scores and Exeter were suddenly back in the game at 26-14.
Bath thought they had a fifth try soon after the break but skipper Ben Spencer’s attempt was canceled out by a careless but helpful obstruction as Cameron Redpath created the opening in the visitors’ 22nd.
Now it was Bath who were on the back foot, conceding a series of penalties and eventually being forced into a desperate defense.
The visitors, led by skipper Dafydd Jenkins, rallied to the home line and although No 8 Greg Fisilau scored a try after 67 minutes, Slade’s conversion was wide.
Bath were now hanging on for dear life as tensions mounted, but Immanuel Feyi-Waboso chipped in to score a dramatic try from a corner, which Slade converted to bring the side level.
In any case, Bath dug deep to build a long-term attack at the other end.
Carreras was dragged under the posts but substitute Green assisted to score under the posts before Russell added the conversion.
