Another week, another thrilling West Country derby. This time, it was Bath who emerged victorious, overcoming an 11-point deficit in the first half to secure an eight-try victory and their highest points tally against their neighbours in the storied history of this fixture.
Bath's success was largely due to their superior cohesion and better decision-making under pressure. Key performances from Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence, along with a collective desire to atone for their recent loss to Bristol, played a significant role. The six second-half tries also highlighted the depth of their bench resources.
Gloucester had their moments, with Ollie Thorley on the right wing displaying exceptional energy, and Zach Mercer and Josh Hathaway making notable contributions. Young England U20 prop Afolabi Fasogbon also showed promise. However, Gloucester struggled to maintain their best form for the full 80 minutes and still have defensive issues to address.
The match provided some relief for the long-suffering Shed faithful. The first 40 minutes were particularly lively, with Gloucester starting strong, reminiscent of Cheltenham Gold Cup pacesetters. Bath scored first through a well-executed try by Beno Obano, but Gloucester responded with three impressive tries in quick succession.
Despite injuries to key players, Gloucester needed to stay focused tactically. A risky move by hooker Jack Singleton, attempting a chip over the top near his own line, gave Bath a crucial attacking platform, leading to Finn Russell scoring. Bath's Hill, playing as a lock, was instrumental in limiting Gloucester's ball supply.
Gloucester's Thorley and captain Lewis Ludlow put in valiant defensive efforts, but Bath's numerical advantage after a yellow card to Charlie Atkinson allowed them to exploit the situation. Bath's Josh Bayliss and Jaco Coetzee added late tries, pushing the visitors past the half-century mark.
