Bath beat Exeter 40-34 after surviving second-half fightback

Bath beat Exeter Chiefs 40-34 at the Rec on Friday, October 2, recovering after the visitors overturned a 16-point half-time deficit. Sky Sports reported that the result sent Bath to the top of the Gallagher Prem table, with a penalty try and a Ted Hill score helping the hosts regain control of the derby.

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Cameron Redpath opened Bath’s scoring by intercepting a Harvey Skinner pass, before Bernard van der Linde found a gap for the second try. Finn Russell converted both for a 14-0 advantage. Exeter responded through Stephen Varney, whose score followed strong running from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, but Dan du Preez then crossed from close range to extend Bath’s tally.

Jack Yeandle kept Exeter in contention with a try from a driving lineout. Russell then scored Bath’s fourth, using a dummy to break through before adding the conversion. That secured the hosts’ try bonus point and left them 26-10 ahead at the interval, according to the Sky Sports match report.

The lead did not last. BBC Sport reported that Josh Iosefa-Scott scored early in the second half before Feyi-Waboso struck twice, taking Exeter into the lead within 15 minutes of the restart. Skinner’s wide pass helped create the winger’s first try, while former Bath centre Will Butt broke through midfield to set up his second.

Bath’s response came after Varney deliberately knocked on a pass intended for Joe Cokanasiga. A penalty try was awarded and Exeter’s scrum-half was sent to the sin-bin. Hill, on as a replacement, subsequently forced his way over, with Russell’s conversion giving Bath a nine-point cushion. Skinner’s penalty in the 79th minute reduced the final margin to six.

The BBC said Bath finished with the maximum 10 league points from their opening two wins, while Exeter collected both a try bonus point and a losing bonus point despite a second straight defeat. Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan credited the impact of his replacements in comments to BBC Radio Somerset. Exeter counterpart Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon he saw encouraging qualities after the previous week’s defeat by Gloucester.