Bath Rugby Secures Semi-Final Spot with Victory Over Gloucester
Bath Rugby has secured their place in the semi-finals of the PREM Rugby Cup after a thrilling 38-26 victory over their West Country rivals, Gloucester. The match was a high-energy clash that saw both teams push hard for dominance, but ultimately, it was Bath’s superior performance that proved decisive.
The hosts’ half-backs were instrumental in the win, with Tom Carr-Smith scoring two tries and Ojomoh adding one from the corner. Will Muir, named player of the match, also celebrated his 40th try in the blue, black, and white jersey. Additional tries for Bath came from Kepueli Tuipulotu and Ethan Staddon, showcasing the team’s attacking prowess.
On the other side, Gloucester managed to score four tries through Ben Redshaw, Ollie Thorley, Max Knight, and Deian Gwynne, earning them a losing bonus point. However, these efforts weren’t enough to prevent their elimination from the competition. The visitors will now have two weekends off to regroup before returning to league action, while Bath prepares for a crucial match against Leicester Tigers next Sunday, aiming to make it back-to-back finals in the competition they won in 2025.
A Tense Start to the Match
The opening 10 minutes of the game were scrappy, as both teams struggled to find their rhythm due to limited practice time together. It looked like the visitors had the momentum when Arthur Clark made a strong lunge for the line, but the try was not awarded due to unclear grounding by the second row.
Just after the 15th minute, Bath opened the scoring with a try from Tom Carr-Smith, who celebrated his birthday with a well-timed finish. Will Butt found a gap in Gloucester’s defense, leading to a successful move that ended with Carr-Smith crossing the line. Tom de Glanville converted the try, giving Bath a seven-point lead.
Momentum Shifts as Bath Builds on Their Lead
Within five minutes, Bath scored their second try of the match, with Kepueli Tuipulotu scoring from the back of a maul. After an initial failed line-out, Tuipulotu capitalized on the second attempt, showing great patience and strength to power through the defense.
Gloucester had a chance to respond, with Ben Redshaw finding space out wide, but a solid tackle from Will Muir prevented the fullback from advancing. Despite this, Redshaw eventually broke through, scoring a deserved try after relentless pressure on Bath’s try line.
Bath extended their lead with a third try in the first half, courtesy of Will Muir. Tom Carr-Smith delivered a long pass to the left wing, and Muir took advantage of the space to score. The conversion by de Glanville gave Bath a commanding lead at halftime.
Second Half Action and Key Moments
After the break, Bath added a bonus point try through Ojomoh, who charged towards the line but was held short. Carr-Smith then placed the ball over the line, making it the birthday boy’s second try of the day.
Gloucester responded quickly, with Ollie Thorley scoring after a well-executed move through the backline. The momentum shifted further when Francois van Wyk was sent to the sin bin for pushing the ball into Lewis Ludlow’s head. This allowed Gloucester to capitalize, with Max Knight scoring a converted try to bring them within a touchdown of Bath.
Bath quickly regained control, with Ethan Staddon scoring after a defensive error from Gloucester. Ojomoh then added another try, with Will Muir picking up the ball and passing it to Ojomoh for a stunning flip finish in the corner.
Final Moments and Conclusion
Gloucester secured a consolation bonus point when Deian Gwynne scored his first try of the season from the back of a maul, marking the final significant moment of the game.
Line-Ups for Both Teams
Bath Rugby:
15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Butt (c), 11 Will Muir, 10 Max Ojomoh, 9 Tom Carr-Smith; 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Miles Reid.
Replacements:
16 Tom Dunn, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Will Roue, 23 Cameron Redpath.
Gloucester Rugby:
15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Josiah Edwards Giraud, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Ciaran Knight, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Arthur Clark, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Will Trenholm.
Replacements:
16 Jack Innard, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Danny Eite, 20 Josh Basham, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Max Knight, 23 George Barton.
Referee: George Selwood
Assistant referees: Sara Cox and Simon Harding
TMO: Andrew Jackson
