The Bath versus Exeter rugby derby delivered another intense contest that echoed the excitement of their previous meeting three months earlier. This time Bath managed to respond effectively as their substitute players brought additional strength to the game.
Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan praised the impact of his bench after the 40-34 victory. Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said the match showed his team was prepared to be in a fight every week.
Bath's bench players included Frost; Kirk; Griffin; Hill; Reid; Carr-Smith; Ojomoh; and Coetzee. Exeter’s starting lineup featured Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso; Slade; Butt; Wyatt; Skinner; Varney; Burger; Yeandle; Iosefa-Scott; Wilson; Jenkins; E Roots; James; and Fisilau.
Varney received a yellow card in the match at the 61-minute mark.
Referee Luke Pearce oversaw the game. Cam Redpath; Dan du Preez; Bernard van der Linde; Ted Hill; and Finn Russell scored tries for Bath according to The Guardian. Bath were also awarded a penalty try.
Russell converted four of Bath’s five conventional tries. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored two tries for Exeter while Jack Yeandle; Josh Iosefa-Scott; and Varney also crossed the line.
Bath took an early lead after Redpath intercepted a pass from Skinner and ran 50 meters to score. Van der Linde later scored a solo try by slipping through Exeter’s defensive gap.
Exeter needed to rally and they did so with strong efforts from Feyi-Waboso. The hosts scored a third try after capitalizing on a favorable bounce at midfield.
Henry Slade was tackled by Finn Russell during the match. Exeter began the second half strongly and scored two tries quickly. Josh Iosefa-Scott crashed over from close range before Feyi-Waboso powered past two defenders.
Former Bath player Will Butt created space that allowed Feyi-Waboso to score his second try.
Exeter briefly moved ahead before Varney was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. The resulting penalty try put Bath back in front before replacement Ted Hill crossed to extend the lead.
Slade later missed a penalty attempt. Harvey Skinner kicked a separate late penalty that helped Exeter secure two bonus points from the match. Exeter earned one bonus point for scoring at least four tries and another for losing by seven points or fewer.