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 unfolded as an eleven‑try spectacle that kept supporters on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The first half saw Bath seize an early advantage, building a 26-10 lead by halftime.
The hosts opened the scoring when Cam Redpath intercepted a wayward pass from Exeter’s Harvey Skinner, sprinting fifty metres to touch down. This breakthrough was quickly followed by a second try from Bernard van der Linde, who exploited a gap in the visitors’ defensive line to score an individual effort. Both scores were converted by Finn Russell, who also added a penalty try later in the half, extending Bath’s lead to a comfortable 14-0 after the opening quarter.
Exeter, refusing to be overwhelmed, responded through the power and pace of Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso. The young winger first broke through a tackle by Ollie Lawrence, forcing the defense to retreat, and later, after a quick recycle, surged past two additional cover defenders to score his first try of the day, with scrum‑half Stephen Varney providing the conversion. The Chiefs continued to press, with Jack Yeandle, Josh Iosefa‑Scott and Varney each crossing the line, while Henry Slade added three successful conversions and Harvey Skinner contributed a late penalty. Bath’s third try came from a fortunate bounce at the halfway line, which saw van der Linde and Ewan Richards capitalize on the loose ball, allowing Dan du Preez to force his way over from close range.
A botched kickoff by Bath gave Exeter a chance to stay within touching distance when Yeandle, from a driving lineout, scored a try that kept the visitors in contention. As the half‑time whistle approached, Bath intensified their pressure. Finn Russell executed a dummy‑run that fooled the defense, earning a bonus‑point try and converting it himself to bring the halftime score to 26-10 in Bath’s favour. The second half began with Exeter launching a vigorous comeback, netting two quick tries.
Iosefa‑Scott powered over from close range, followed by a spectacular effort from Feyi‑Waboso, who brushed aside two would‑be tacklers to score his second try of the match. Slade’s conversions kept the Chiefs within striking distance, narrowing the gap to just two points. Will Butt, a former Bath player now wearing the Exeter jersey, carved a path through the home side’s defence, delivering a clean ball to Feyi‑Waboso for his second try, which temporarily gave the Chiefs their first lead of the game.
However, the momentum shifted again when Bath were awarded a penalty try after Varney received a yellow card for a deliberate knock‑on. In his absence, Ted Hill powered over the line, restoring Bath’s advantage. The closing stages were a tense seesaw.
Slade missed a crucial penalty, handing the goal‑kicking duties to Skinner, whose successful boot secured two bonus points for Exeter despite the loss. Bath’s resilience, highlighted by Russell’s four conversions and the collective try‑scoring prowess of Redpath, van der Linde, Hill, du Preez and Russell himself, proved decisive.
Overall, the match featured eleven tries, a penalty try, a yellow card, and a swing of leads that epitomized the rivalry between the two West Country clubs. Bath’s ability to regroup after Exeter’s mid‑game surge and to maintain composure under pressure enabled them to clinch the win and ascend to the top of the Premiership standings.
The victory not only awarded them the three competition points for the win but also the additional bonus point for scoring four or more tries, cementing their position as the league leaders heading into the next round of fixtures.