Bath secured a hard-fought 28-16 victory over Sale in a tense Premiership clash at the Recreation Ground, with standout performances from Henry Arundell and a late bonus-point try from Max Ojomoh. Despite dominating possession and territory, Bath were made to work for their win by a resilient Sale side that refused to give up.
The match unfolded on a wet and windy night in Somerset, with Bath’s depth and experience ultimately making the difference. They were quick to respond every time Sale threatened. The first half saw Bath take an early lead with Arundell scoring his first home Premiership try for the club. The electric winger raced around Sale’s Tom O’Flaherty after Ollie Lawrence created the opening. Bath continued to apply pressure, and Miles Reid’s break from a lineout was swiftly turned into a try by Cameron Redpath.
Sale, however, kept their hopes alive through the kicking boot of George Ford, who landed two drop goals and a penalty to keep his side within striking distance. Yet, when Sale’s skipper, Ernst van Rhyn, was sin-binned, Bath capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Beno Obano touching down for their third try.
In the second half, Sale showed plenty of resolve. They struck early with a close-range try from Nathan Jibulu to reduce the deficit to 21-16, but Bath’s defensive resilience, led by a game-changing tackle from Sam Underhill, kept Sale at bay. Sale’s physicality, particularly in the scrum, had posed problems for Bath throughout, but the hosts held firm as the game neared its conclusion.
With only three minutes left, Bath sealed the win when Ben Spencer’s precise chip kick set up Ojomoh for his late try, ensuring the bonus point and preserving their perfect start to the season.
Despite the victory, Bath head coach Johann van Graan faces potential injury concerns, with key players Charlie Ewels, Quinn Roux, and Ted Hill all leaving the field in the second half. Sale’s director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, expressed frustration over his team’s inability to capitalize on their chances, noting that against the top teams, small mistakes and poor discipline would not suffice.
England’s head coach Steve Borthwick was in attendance and could not have missed the sharpness of Arundell and the steady kicking of Ford, both of whom stood out in testing conditions. Bath’s victory extends their winning streak, and with their stadium redevelopment project nearing approval, the future looks bright for the club. However, with Sale promising to improve, the race for the Premiership title remains wide open.
