Bath rally to take down Gloucester at sold-out Kingsholm

Gloucester’s slim hopes of an end-of-season play-off spot were extinguished as Bath recovered from a 17-0 deficit to achieve a superb 33-24 victory before a sell-out crowd at Kingsholm.

Gloucester looked in firm control until a yellow card for their skipper Lewis Ludlow gave Bath a foothold in the match and they grew in confidence from then to run out deserved winners.

Miles Reid scored two tries for Bath, while Joe Cokanasiga and Sam Underhill were also on the try-scoring sheet.

There was also a penalty try award, with Ben Spencer adding three conversions.

Stephen Varney, Seb Atkinson and Santiago Carreras scored Gloucester’s tries, with Carreras adding a penalty and three conversions.

Gloucester took a sixth-minute lead with a well-created try. Chris Harris and Carreras combined neatly to create space for Louis Rees-Zammit to send Varney over.

Carreras converted and added a straightforward penalty before Bath had their first chance for points.

They turned down a kickable penalty in favour of a driving line-out and when hooker Tom Dunn burst away from it, he looked a likely scorer but managed to lose possession in the process of grounding.

Bath were made to pay for their profligacy when some quick handling provided Carreras with an overlap and an easy run-in.

The visitors needed a response and they got one with an award of a penalty try. Max Ojomoh ran elusively before being hauled into touch by a high tackle from Ludlow, and after viewing TMO replays, the Gloucester captain was yellow-carded and the try given.

Bath took advantage of Ludlow’s absence to score a second try when Reid finished off a succession of forward drives, with Spencer converting to leave his side trailing 17-14 at the interval.

Ludlow returned for the restart and in time to see his side extend the lead when an excellent three-quarter move culminated in Atkinson forcing his way over.

Bath had another opportunity when Tom de Glanville intercepted a pass from Harris to set sail for the line but the full-back was chased down by the pace of Rees-Zammit.

However Bath took their next chance when their opponents failed to deal with a speculative kick from Spencer. The ball bounced unfavourably for Ollie Thorley and Carreras with Cokanasiga on hand to pick up the pieces.

Three minutes later, Bath took the lead for the first time when Reid crashed over for his second, with Spencer’s conversion giving them a two-point advantage going into the final quarter.

The tide had now firmly turned Bath’s way and it came as no surprise when they scored a fifth try as a burst from Ollie Lawrence put the home defence on the back foot which allowed Underhill to pick up and score.

Carreras missed two late penalties to ensure Gloucester came away with nothing and leave Bath with only their second away win in the Premiership this year.