In an all-time Gallagher Premiership classic, Bath’s treble dream stayed alive as they sealed a place in English club rugby’s domestic final for the second straight season.
Johann van Graan’s side have been the best team in the country this term and have also won the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup.
Now, they are only one game away from a third trophy after surviving a significant scare by Bristol who played some scintillating attacking rugby.
This really was a brilliant encounter. Bath will face one of either Leicester or Sale – who meet in the second play-off semi-final on Saturday in the league decider – and the fact they came through to win here marks them out as a potentially true champion team.
Four quick Bath tries at the start of the second half proved decisive as Pat Lam’s Bristol – who went for broke in the first 40 – ran out of puff badly after the break.
Bath, beaten in the 2024 final by Northampton, now look like title winners elect a year later.
Joe Cokanasiga celebrates scoring Bath’s second try of the game against Bristol Bears
They deserve immense credit for this victory, scoring 28 unanswered second-half points.
‘It was a great game of rugby and two very good sides. This team is tough to beat,’ said Van Graan, who has done a remarkable job in taking Bath from bottom to top.
‘We were looking for a structured game and we got that in the second half. We were calm and composed. To go from 13-6 down to 34-13 up takes some doing. ‘We knew it was going to take some effort. I couldn’t be prouder. It’s brilliant to be part of this club. It’s incredible what you can achieve when you dream big.
‘The better team tonight and throughout the season won the game.’
Bath’s supporters have had plenty to cheer about this season with two trophies already in the bag. They stood 10 deep to welcome their players into The Rec, blue smoke and fireworks lighting up the sky.
Finn Russell, unsurprisingly, looked relaxed to the point of horizontal. There had been plenty of pre-game spice, Bristol’s England prop Ellis Genge saying he grew up with a ‘hate’ for Bath and had a ‘personal vendetta’ against the hosts.
‘We certainly got a lot of motivation from Bristol,’ said Van Graan afterwards.
Genge paced the pitch like a caged animal waiting to be unleashed during the warm-up. He even had a word with Bath supporters as he ran out of the tunnel and when the game began, was then almost immediately penalised for foul language by referee Christophe Ridley.
Temperatures were high and that was certainly true of the simmering Genge. The atmosphere was febrile, The Rec packed out with vociferous home support.
It was English club rugby at its best. AJ MacGinty gave Bristol a 3-0 lead. The Bears had come to play. Kalaveti Ravouvou chased backed to cover a long Bath kick. He didn’t just alleviate the danger, he caused havoc – running over Ben Spencer and making 50 metres.
When the ball was recycled back left, Genge’s fine pass sent James Dun over and MacGinty’s kick made it 10-0.
Ravouvou then went from saint to sinner, yellow carded for tripping Bath captain Spencer as he looked to play quickly. Russell narrowed the home deficit.
Bristol were running everything, mixing the sublime with the daft. But their intent and ball handling were just superb. At times, it was like watching the Harlem Globetrotters. Only a brilliant steal from player of the match Guy Pepper stopped Bristol from grabbing a second while down to 14.
MacGinty then turned down a kickable penalty, perhaps with a try in mind but also with the aim of running down the clock before Ravouvou could return.
Bath had struggled to get their trademark power game going, chasing white shirts more often than having possession themselves. And when they did have a number of phases, Bristol held out with Benhard Janse van Rensburg coming up trumps at the breakdown.
On the verge of the break, the Bears were dealt a cruel blow. Their livewire No 9 Harry Randall, so key to their high-tempo game, was forced off with a serious shoulder injury.
On came Kieran Marmion as the drama continued. Ravouvou hit Alfie Barbeary high, risking a second yellow that would have seen him sent off.
But Ridley decided on a penalty only, Russell and MacGinty swapping penalties to end the half with Bristol 13-6 up. Everyone needed a break after that first 40. It had been compelling stuff.
Bath started the second half like a house on fire. Bristol conceded a simple penalty, Russell went to the corner, and on his 50th Bath appearance Ted Hill dived over.
Russell converted and in an instant, it was 13-13. At the other end, Hill then produced an astonishing try-saving tackle on the maverick Ravouvou.
Such was the scintillating pace of the encounter that the replacements came early on both sides.
Bath scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to win an all-time Premiership classic
If The Rec had a roof, it would have come off in the 49th minute. Tom de Glanville kicked ahead, Ravouvou couldn’t collect as the ball bounced wickedly, and hulking Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga pounced to score. The explosion of noise was cataclysmic and Russell’s kick put Bath seven to the good.
Bristol had shipped two quick tries in costly fashion and it soon got worse for them, Will Muir making it three in the opposite corner to Cokanasiga.
Russell’s kicking was exemplary all night and he converted from the touchline.
All of a sudden, it was one-way traffic. The momentum swing was astonishing and Marmion saw yellow with Bristol under intense pressure. As Bath turned up the power, Bristol unravelled. Max Ojomoh made it four and that was the game. Genge was then held up over the line and replaced, his immense disappointment obvious as he trudged off.
Janse van Rensburg grabbed a late away consolation but it couldn’t stop Bath’s sheer joy. They will take some beating in Saturday’s final.
Russell departed late on with cramp, chirpsing Bristol centre James Williams, but should be fine for the final.
‘Well done to Bath. They’ve had a phenomenal season and thoroughly deserve to be in the final. They came back well in the second half,’ said Bristol boss Lam.
‘The last thing you want to do is have two yellow cards. Bath are the best side in the Premiership and have the best defence. Their game is really complete.’
