Tonight in front of a vibrant Recreation Ground crowd, the Premiership stars returned to complete what many dubbed the rematch of last year’s final. This time around it was the turn of Bath Rugby to take the spoils over their rivals Northampton Saints.
Despite mutters of frustration surrounding the ticket prices at the Rec, it appeared, on the surface at least, to be an almost full house. The atmosphere was brimming with static energy as the players prepared to kick off a new season of Gallagher Premiership rugby.
The home side, dressed in their new darker kit ran out through a tunnel of young fans and drummers alike to thunderous applause amid a firework display that would not have looked out of place at Ellis Park.
Northampton Saints, dressed in white and green kicked off, sending the ball through the remaining fragrance of smoke that filled the air.
It wasn’t long before big winger Joe Cokanasiga charged over his opposite man to score the opening try of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season. A tidy conversion from Fin Russell and it was 7-0 to Bath with just five minutes on the clock.
First try of the new season goes to @BathRugby and Joe Cokanasiga 🛁#GallagherPrem | #BATvNOR pic.twitter.com/wTfICMGKss
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) September 20, 2024
The key thing a championship-winning side must do, however, is ensure that they don’t take their finger off the button, allowing the other side to return fire. Bath were almost guilty of this when they conceded a penalty right in front of their posts just moments later. Fortunately for the west-country side, Northampton’s Fin Smith had an uncharacteristic moment with the boot, slicing the ball wide.
The next 15 minutes proceeded with both sides knocking on each other’s doors, before running away or having their knuckles wrapped by the way of a huge, more often than not, Bath tackle.
With the constant pressure on the defences, fresh into a new season, a breakthrough was always on the cards. The break in question came from George Furbank who expertly sliced through the blue and black defence before sliding a pinpoint accurate bullet pass to Josh Kemeny on the wing to touch down. Converted by Fin Smith.
💨 George Furbank went flying through and found Kemeny on his competitive debut for @SaintsRugby #GallagherPrem | #BATvNOR pic.twitter.com/Qbg4f3bAFk
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) September 20, 2024
The match, up to this point appeared well worth the hype it had received in the build-up. The next try just solidified that. A brilliant spinning take from Finn Russell under the high ball allowed him to wriggle free of his would-be tackler, popping it out to Tom De Glanville to open up the play. Some great interplay afterwards involving Will Butt and Ben Spencer led to a tidy finish from Ted Hill under the posts.
“GREAT FINISH” – @samwarburton_
👏 Ted Hill finishes off a wonderful flowing move from @BathRugby#GallagherPrem | #BATvNOR pic.twitter.com/9sPE6DK27Z
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) September 20, 2024
The attitudes between the two sides were in stark contrast. While Northampton aimed for the posts, Bath put their trust in the catch and drive at the lineout to tremendous avail. Ben Spencer sent Northampton back to the midlands with the most audacious dummy off the back of a rolling mall, taking his side 11 points to the good before the break.
Half-time score: Bath 21-10 Northampton
The second half looked to be going Northampton’s way after James Ramm touched down in the right-hand corner, but referee Luke Pearce shortly struck it off after deeming it not to have been grounded properly.
After a bitty third quarter, Saints found themselves back within touching distance of the lead after two well-taken penalties by Fin Smith. bath, buoyed up by their home fans weren’t sure to let the party atmosphere break down quite so easily, however, with Ollie Lawrence capitalising on a Saints mistake to touchdown in the corner. The unnerved Russell added the extras.
It was Russell on the scoreboard again next, as he showed utmost maturity to take the game away from Northampton with just 10 minutes remaining.
Russell choosing to take the points with 15 minutes remaining to take the game away from Northampton 🏉 pic.twitter.com/YifL3Yya5E
— Jack Tunney (@JackTunneyRugby) September 20, 2024
The stadium erupted when Tom De Glanville scored Bath’s bonus point try in the corner – that was…right until the play was brought back for a forward pass. No worries on the Bath faces, however, as Jcco Coetzee gave them the five points just seconds later from close range.
Final score: Bath Rugby 38-16 Northampton Saints
Elsewhere in the Gallagher Premiership, there was a win for Bristol Bears over Newcastle Falcons.
On Saturday Exeter Chiefs will welcome Leicester Tigers to Sandy Park, while Gloucester and Saracens clash at Kingholm in a match with plenty of new faces.
Sale welcome Harlequins to the AJ Bell on Sunday in the final of the weekends matches.
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
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