Bath secured a dramatic 40-34 win over the 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 turned into an 11‑try extravaganza, with both sides exchanging blows throughout the ninety minutes. The first half saw Bath assert early dominance. An early interception by Cam Redpath, who stripped the ball from a Harvey Skinner pass and sprinted fifty metres to the try‑line, gave the home side an immediate boost.
This was followed by a solo effort from Bernard van der Linde, who slipped through a gap in Exeter’s defensive line to touch down. Both tries were expertly converted by Finn Russell, leaving Bath with a comfortable 14‑0 lead at the quarter‑time break.
Exeter, however, were not content to linger behind. Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso, the young winger who has been turning heads all season, responded with a blistering run that saw him evade a tackle from Ollie Lawrence and force the Exeter defence onto its back foot. After the ball was recycled, Feyi‑Waboso powered past two more cover defenders, with scrum‑half Stephen Varney supporting to finish the move.
This try sparked a much‑needed response for the Chiefs. Bath’s third try came from a fortunate bounce at the halfway line.
Van der Linde and Ewan Richards pounced on the loose ball, setting up Dan du Preez for a short‑range effort that he forced over the line. A botched kickoff by Bath allowed Exeter’s Jack Yeandle to launch a quick line‑out drive, which resulted in another try for the visitors and kept them within touching distance. As the half‑hour mark approached, Bath intensified their pressure.
Finn Russell, showing his versatility, executed a dummy‑run that fooled the defence and earned him a bonus‑point try. He also slotted the conversion, extending Bath’s lead to 26‑10 at the interval. The second half began with Exeter firing on all cylinders.
Josh Iosefa‑Scott crashed over from close range, followed shortly by a second try from Feyi‑Waboso, who brushed aside two would‑be tacklers with apparent ease. Henry Slade, Exeter’s reliable kicker, converted both, narrowing the gap to just two points and injecting fresh belief into the Chiefs. Momentum swung once more when former Bath player Will Butt, now with Exeter, sliced through the home defence, creating a clear path for Feyi‑Waboso to score his second try of the match. This gave the Chiefs a fleeting lead for the first time, putting Bath under pressure to respond.
Bath’s answer came in the form of a penalty try after Varney was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock‑on. In Varney’s absence, Ted Hill surged forward and powered his way over the line, restoring Bath’s advantage. The penalty‑try award also meant an automatic conversion, further solidifying their lead.
The final stages of the contest were a tense battle of kicks and defensive grit. Slade missed a crucial penalty attempt, prompting Bath’s Harvey Skinner to take over the goal‑kicking duties. Skinner’s successful penalty added valuable points and secured two bonus points for Exeter, reflecting the high‑scoring nature of the encounter. Overall, Bath’s triumph was built on a balanced attack featuring five different try‑scorers – Redpath, du Preez, van der Linde, Hill and Russell – plus a penalty try.
Their ability to capitalize on turnovers and maintain pressure in both halves proved decisive. Exeter, despite a valiant comeback and the brilliance of Feyi‑Waboso, who crossed the line twice, were ultimately undone by discipline issues, notably Varney’s yellow card, and missed goal‑kicking opportunities. The win not only lifts Bath to the top of the Premiership standings but also showcases the depth of talent in their squad, with forwards and backs alike contributing to a fluid, attacking style of rugby. For Exeter, the loss highlights areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining composure under pressure and converting scoring chances.
Both teams will take valuable lessons from this electrifying derby as the season progresses, where every point can prove pivotal in the race for the title.