Match Report: Bath Rugby 11-17 Exeter Chiefs

Match Report: Bath Rugby 11-17 Exeter Chiefs

  • Exeter recorded a first ever win at the Rec in the Premiership as they fought back to beat Bath 17-11 
  • Semesa Rokoduguni’s try combined with the boot of George Ford gave the hosts an 11-0 lead at halftime
  • A second-half brace from winger James Short saw the Chiefs fight back to win
Exeter Chiefs came from 11-0 down to beat play-off rivals Bath 17-11 in their Premiership clash at the Recreation Ground on New Year’s Eve.

Chiefs had won their last four Premiership Rugby fixtures since Bath beat them 13-10 at Sandy Park in Round Seven, in which Semesa Rokoduguni’s late try proved the crucial score.



Fly-half George Ford initially fired Bath ahead with a pair of penalties before, in front of England boss Eddie Jones, Rokoduguni danced around a couple of Exeter challenges to spectacularly finish in the corner, 11-0.

After the breakAnthony Watson returned to a field 13 weeks after breaking his jaw during ‘that’ England training camp.

Gareth Steenson started the Chiefs dramatic comeback just after the hour when he knocked over a penalty, 11-3.

And, with Bath down to 14 men after losing all available props, Exeter capitalised with replacement James Short crossed twice in the last nine minutes.

LINE UPS

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Aled Brew, 10 George Ford (cc), 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Tom Ellis, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Matt Garvey (cc), 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Nathan Catt
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Paul Grant, 21 Darren Allinson, 22 Max Clark, 23 Anthony Watson
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Ollie Devoto, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (c), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Jack Yeandle, 1 Ben Moon
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Joe Simmonds, 23 James Short
Date: Saturday, December 31
Venue: Recreation Ground
Time: 15:00 Local
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Greg Garner, Phil Watters
TMO: Geoff Warren