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Finn Russell shushes Gloucester crowd with Bath's match-sealing penalty
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Bath returned to the Gallagher Prem summit after Finn Russell’s late penalties edged out Gloucester 30-26 in a gripping west country derby at Kingsholm.
Despite Bath boss Johann van Graan making 11 changes following an emphatic Champions Cup victory over Edinburgh last time out, his team reclaimed top spot from Northampton who play Sale on Saturday.
The reigning Prem champions were pushed hard by opponents with only one league win this season, trailing by 14 points midway through the second quarter before a comeback capped when Russell struck twice during a tense final seven minutes.
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Driven by a replacements’ bench that featured five England internationals, Bath kept their composure when pressure was at its most intense, with tries from Louie Hennessey, Dan Frost, Guy Pepper and Russell denying Gloucester, while Scotland international Russell also added two conversions in a bonus-point success.
Gloucester went toe to toe with their neighbours as Val Rapava Ruskin, Charlie Atkinson, Seb Atkinson and Afo Fasogbon touched down and George Barton kicked three conversions, securing two bonus points in defeat.
It took Bath just 135 seconds to open their account, hurting Gloucester from deep as former Kingsholm favourite Santi Carreras sparked a thrilling counter-attack that ended with skipper Ben Spencer delivering a scoring pass to Hennessey.
Russell added the extras but far from being rocked on their heels, Gloucester were level six minutes later after Barton’s strong run took him close before Rapava Ruskin bounced off three defenders for an equalising try that Barton converted.
And it got even better for the home side midway through a pulsating first half when precise build-up play saw Charlie Atkinson pounce from close range and Barton’s conversion opened up a seven-point lead.
The fly-half then turned provider, making headway from just inside Bath’s 22 and firing possession to flanker Lewis Ludlow, whose inside ball found an unmarked Seb Atkinson. Barton’s third successful conversion made it 21-7.
Gloucester, 27 points and seven places below Bath before kick-off, had produced some of their best rugby during what has been a challenging campaign, although they were powerless to prevent Frost from claiming the visitors’ second try eight minutes before half-time.
And there was still time for Bath to make further inroads as substitute Pepper levelled up the try count before Russell’s conversion made it 21-19 at the break.
Centre Josiah Edwards-Giraud stopped Bath from taking the lead through a try-saving tackle on Frost early in the second period, and Gloucester moved back upfield, delivering a powerful scrummaging effort from which Fasogbon claimed their bonus-point score.
Van Graan then sent on five substitutes at once but despite Bath establishing a foothold inside Gloucester’s 22, they were denied by a combination of resolute defence and Thomas du Toit’s knock-on that denied Sam Underhill a try.
The pressure was relentless, though, and Russell pounced on a loose ball to collect Bath’s fourth touchdown – though he failed to tie things up by sending his conversion attempt wide.
Bath then saw Pepper yellow-carded for a trip, before Gloucester prop Ciaran Knight followed him off the pitch after infringing close to the line, and Russell kicked the resulting penalty for a one-point advantage then added another to finally see his team home.
