Bath secured a dramatic 40-34 win over Exeter Chiefs in a high‑octane West Country derby at the Recreation Ground, propelling them to the summit of the Gallagher Premiership table. The match unfolded as an 11‑try extravaganza, with both sides displaying relentless attacking flair and defensive resilience. The first half saw Bath establish an early foothold. Cam Redpath intercepted a wayward pass from Exeter’s Harvey Skinner, sprinted fifty metres, and dived over for the opening score.
Shortly thereafter, Bernard van der Linde exploited a gap in the visitors’ line, diving onto the ball for his own try. Finn Russell, who would finish the day as Bath’s top point‑scorer, successfully converted both attempts, giving the home side a 14‑0 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. Exeter, however, were not to be dismissed. Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso, the young winger who has been a revelation this season, responded with a dazzling solo effort.
He sidestepped a tackle from Bath’s powerhouse Ollie Lawrence, broke the defensive line, and, after a quick recycle, powered past two more defenders to touch down. The try was converted by the reliable Henry Slade, narrowing the deficit and signalling that the Chiefs would fight back.
Bath’s third try came from a fortunate bounce at the halfway line. Van der Linde pounced on the loose ball, while Ewan Richards supported, allowing Dan du Preez to force his way over from close range. A botched kickoff gave Exeter a second‑chance opportunity, and Jack Yeandle capitalised with a line‑out driven try that kept the visitors within touching distance. As the half‑hour mark approached, Bath intensified their pressure.
Finn Russell feigned a pass, sliced through the defensive line, and dived over for a bonus‑point try. He added the conversion, extending Bath’s lead to 26‑10 at the interval. The second half began with Exeter bursting out of the tunnel.
Josh Iosefa‑Scott crashed over from a short distance, and Feyi‑Waboso followed with a spectacular finish, brushing aside two would‑be tacklers in a display of pure power and balance. Slade’s accurate boot added the conversions, and the Chiefs were suddenly only two points behind, having turned a twelve‑point deficit into a neck‑and‑neck contest.
Will Butt, a former Bath academy product now wearing the Exeter jersey, carved a path through the home defence, delivering a clean ball to Feyi‑Waboso for his second try of the match. The try gave the Chiefs their first lead of the evening, 33‑31, and the momentum appeared to be shifting in their favour.
Bath, however, responded with composure. A penalty try was awarded after Exeter scrum‑half Stephen Varney was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock‑on in the danger zone. In Varney’s absence, Ted Hill surged forward, powering over the line to restore Bath’s lead. The penalty‑try decision proved pivotal, as it not only awarded Bath six points but also removed a key play‑maker from Exeter’s arsenal for ten minutes.
The game’s closing stages were a tense seesaw. Henry Slade missed a crucial penalty that could have extended Exeter’s advantage, and the responsibility for goal‑kicking fell to Harvey Skinner. Skinner, who had been quiet for most of the match, stepped up and slotted a late penalty, securing two bonus points for the Chiefs despite the loss.
In the end, Bath’s relentless attacking arsenal—highlighted by tries from Redpath, du Preez, van der Linde, Hill and Russell—combined with disciplined defence and opportunistic play, saw them clinch a hard‑fought victory. Exeter’s impressive performance, underpinned by Feyi‑Waboso’s two tries, Iosefa‑Scott’s power, and Butt’s incisive running, ensured the match remained a thrilling contest until the final whistle. The win not only gave Bath three points for the triumph but also secured a valuable bonus‑point for scoring four or more tries, cementing their position at the top of the Gallagher Premiership table.
Exeter, despite the defeat, walked away with two bonus points—one for scoring four tries and another for a narrow losing margin—keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top‑four finish. Both teams will now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures, with Bath looking to maintain their momentum and Exeter aiming to bounce back from a narrow loss.
The derby will be remembered as a showcase of West Country rugby, featuring explosive running, tactical ingenuity, and a showcase of emerging talent that promises an exciting season ahead.