On a picturesque autumn afternoon in Bath, the home team put on a rugby masterclass, overpowering the visiting Sale Sharks in a 40-13 rout that sent shockwaves through the Premiership. Despite being reduced to 13 men in the second half, Bath’s determination and skill shone through, leaving Sale struggling to keep pace.
A Blistering Start for Bath
The match began with a bang as South Africa prop Thomas du Toit showcased his world-class ability, offloading beautifully to Will Muir, who raced over the line for a try just 65 seconds into the game. It was a statement of intent from Bath, and they didn’t let up.
We knew we had to come out firing, and that early try really set the tone for us.
Miles Reid, Bath Rugby Captain
Bath’s dominance continued as Guy Pepper’s clever pick-and-go took them within meters of the try line, setting up Miles Reid to bash over for another score 20 minutes in. Not content with creating tries, Du Toit turned scorer himself, dummying and accelerating past the Sale defense to dot down under the posts.
Sale’s Scrum Struggles
Sale’s woes were compounded by their struggles in the scrum, conceding three penalties in the first 15 minutes alone. Prop James Harper bore the brunt of Bath’s pressure and was substituted after just 30 minutes.
Our set-piece just wasn’t functioning today, and against a pack as strong as Bath’s, that’s always going to spell trouble.
Alex Sanderson, Sale Sharks Director of Rugby
Trailing 21-6 at the break, Sale hoped for a second-half resurgence, but it wasn’t to be. Ted Hill sliced through more uncharacteristically fragile Sale defending to secure the bonus point for Bath just five minutes after the restart.
Red Cards Compound Sale’s Misery
As if the scoreline wasn’t painful enough for the visitors, Will Butt and Nye Thomas were both sent off for dangerous tackles in the second half, reducing Sale to 13 men. Though Will Addison did manage a consolation try, Sale never looked like mounting a comeback.
Those red cards were just the final nails in the coffin for us today. We’ll need to take a hard look at our discipline moving forward.
Rob du Preez, Sale Sharks Captain
With the man advantage, Bath ran riot, as Tom Carr-Smith and Francois van Wyk added further tries to cap off a resounding victory. The win takes Bath to the top of the table, at least temporarily, and underlines their status as genuine title contenders this season.
A Special Day for Beno Obano
Amidst the on-field drama, there was a milestone moment for Bath prop Beno Obano, who made his 150th appearance for the club. The popular front-rower left the field to a standing ovation after 55 minutes, his contribution to the cause duly recognized by the adoring home faithful.
Beno is a true Bath legend, and to see him reach 150 caps is just fantastic. He’s been a real cornerstone of this team for years now.
Johann van Graan, Bath Rugby Head Coach
For Sale, it’s back to the drawing board after a second-consecutive heavy defeat. Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson will know his side need to rebound quickly to keep pace in the ultra-competitive Premiership.
But this day belonged to Bath, who delivered a performance brimming with vigor, skill, and no little swagger. If they can maintain this form, a first Premiership title since 1996 might just be within reach. As van Graan noted post-match, “Bath are the real deal, and we’re getting better all the time.” On this evidence, it’s hard to disagree.
