Bath Rugby have continued their unbeaten start to their season as they won their opening home game of the 2025/26 campaign 28-16 against Sale Sharks at a very wet Recreation Ground.
Storm Amy was in full force but veteran scrum half Ben Spencer blew the opposition away with his impeccable kicking in the torrential wind and rain.
It took seven minutes for Bath to score their opening try of the game, with an Ollie Lawrence breakaway from inside his own half before setting up Henry Arundell to carry over his third try of the season as his dream start in the South West continued.
Bath’s second try of the evening came from a line out, the ball ended up with number eight Miles Reid who broke through Sale Sharks’ defensive line before setting up Cameron Redpath who dramatically dived over the try line.
Beno Obano made use of Bath’s extra man due to a Sale player being in the sin bin, after consistent pressure from the South West side on Sale’s try line, Obano was able to find the smallest of gaps and just about ground the ball only a few minutes before half time.
Despite Bath being the only team to score in the first half, Sale kept themselves in the game due to a penalty and two drop goals from England fly half George Ford, one of these being from over 40 metres out.
George Ford that is RIDICULOUS š¤Æ
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 3, 2025
We're getting a kicking masterclass from the @SaleSharksRugby fly-half tonight šÆ
šŗ @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/hPFoBUKzgO
Half time: Bath Rugby 21-9 Sale Sharks
Just under 10 minutes into the second half, Nathan Jibulu scored Sale Sharks’ first try of the game, powering over the line on the second phase after the Northern side opted for a tap and go penalty on the five metre line.
As conditions worsened, the second half became increasingly cagey and the kicking game became increasingly crucial, Bath got two 50/22’s, one was an incredible 70 metre kick from Ben Spencer and the other being from stand in fly half Max Ojomoh.
THAT IS INCH PERFECT FROM BEN SPENCER š±
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 3, 2025
Ridiculous 50:22 from the @BathRugby captain š pic.twitter.com/2FduLMNY41
With only a few minutes to go, Bath scored the all important bonus point try, Spencer made use of the penalty advantage with a chip over the top of Sale’s defence which Ojomoh was just about able to ground in spectacular style.
How did Max Ojomoh even manage to get this down!? š³ pic.twitter.com/APZc3Roy3O
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 3, 2025
Full time: Bath Rugby 28-16 Sale Sharks
Bath’s dream start to the season continued as the team put on a show for the home crowd, especially with a huge return to form from Ollie Lawrence, making only his second start since returning from his injury where he ruptured his achilles tendon during the Six Nations at the start of March.
“For the first try he collected the ball off the floor, shrugged off the defender and that one handed pass was a pretty good get-away. It was an excellent finish by Henry (Arundell), so I’m very pleased with that. It’s just great to have Ollie back. He carried well and defended well, it was a very good performance from him.”
Bath head coach Johann van Graan was also full of praise for experienced scrum half Ben Spencer who made the most out of the difficult conditions, breaking a Premiership record for most kicks from one player in a game with 27.
Where things stand after round two š pic.twitter.com/j8xTppMBGt
— PREM Rugby (@premrugby) October 6, 2025
“When Ben finishes, hopefully not for many years, we’ll look back and realise how good he was. In those conditions, to kick the kicks he did and to manage the game, he is a phenomenal player. He showed it for us at the end of last season, also for England in Argentina and he’s shown in the last two games that he is taking control and taking pressure off our back line.”
This victory sees Bath go second in the Gallagher Prem as they aim to retain their title, their next game is also at home and it’s derby weekend which means Gloucester will be travelling to the Recreation Ground with the hope of obtaining their first win of the season.
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