Bath 38-17 Gloucester result - Finn Russell masterclass sends champions top of Gallagher PREM after five-try romp

PREM / Regular

Recreation Ground / 11.10.2025

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19:37

RUSSELL LEADS RUTHLESS BATH TO TRIUMPH OVER GLOUCESTER

Bath produced a superb performance to climb to the top of the Gallagher PREM table, running in five tries in a dominant 38-17 victory over Gloucester at The Rec.

Inspired by a superb display from fly-half Finn Russell, named Player of the Match by Sam Warburton - the hosts combined power, precision and pace in an electric first half that left their West Country rivals chasing shadows.

Watch: GAS from Arundell sets up De Glanville for sensational Bath opener

Video credit: TNT Sports

Bath’s opening 40 minutes were simply blistering. Tom de Glanville, Tom Dunn, Ollie Lawrence and Ewan Richards all crossed for tries as the Blue, Black and White raced into a commanding lead.

Henry Arundell and Joe Cokanasiga were constant threats out wide, while Russell’s game management and creativity kept Gloucester under relentless pressure.

A moment of individual brilliance from Will Joseph late in the half offered Gloucester brief hope, but Bath went into the break firmly in control.

Watch: 'One-man show' as stunning Arundell burst sets up Lawrence

Video credit: TNT Sports

The home side continued to dominate after the restart, with Richards grabbing his second try following a well-timed pass from Russell.

Even when reduced to 14 men after Russell’s yellow card for kicking the ball from Tomos Williams’ hands, Bath’s defence remained solid.

Gloucester fought to stay in the contest through tries from Ollie Thorley and Ben Loader, both sparked by more magic from Joseph, but their defensive frailties proved costly throughout.

Bath’s set-piece power and intensity at the breakdown were decisive with Sam Underhill and Lawrence leading the charge in defence.

Watch: 'That is some solo score!' - Joseph wizardry ignites Gloucester comeback

Video credit: TNT Sports

Replacement hooker Kepu Tuipulotu came close to adding a sixth try late on, but Gloucester showed pride to hold him up over the line in the final moments.

Despite flashes of attacking promise, the visitors’ handling errors and missed tackles - 34 of the latter - told the story of their struggles.

The result sees Bath move to the summit of the table, unbeaten at home and brimming with confidence.

Gloucester, still searching for their first win of the campaign, will take some comfort from Joseph’s form and flashes of attacking spark, but they were well beaten by a Bath side who look every inch a title contender.

Image credit: Getty Images

Image credit: Getty Images

FINN RUSSELL: 'AWESOME TO BE BACK'

"It was awesome being back in here,"Russell said on TNT Sports. "Having 10 weeks off is the longest off I have had in a while and it gives you that desire to be back.

"We knew what plays were going to come first up because they ran them against us last year. It was good fun out there. Gloucester had a purple patch, they might have had some tough words from their coach at half-time.

"To get a bonus point before half-time was great. The great thing at this club is nothing fazes us, whether that is injuries or boys away.

"After winning it last year, we certainly haven’t switched off, we are back to zero."

Image credit: Getty Images

OFFICIAL PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Bath captain and fly-half Finn Russell gets the gong on his return to club duty following his summer with the Lions.

Image credit: Getty Images

FULL-TIME! BATH 38-17 GLOUCESTER

The Blue, Black and White go top of the table after a six-try performance.

Finn Russell is named Player of the Match by Sam Warburton. Gloucester, meanwhile, remain winless.

81'

NO TRY! BATH 38-17 GLOUCESTER

Gloucester are showing plenty of pride, holding Kepu Tuipulotu up as he drives for the line from a close-range lineout.

A TMO review then shows the replacement Bath hooker knocked on, bringing the game to full time.

80'

BATH 38-17 GLOUCESTER

Tuipulotu is held up on the line.

Reid forces a turnover by contesting Loader, giving Bath one final attempt from the lineout.

Carr-Smith, now on the left wing, catches Englefield’s high box kick and sparks another Bath attack.

78'

BATH 38-17 GLOUCESTER

Bath have a 10m tap penalty.

Kepu Tuipulotu takes it and powers forward, but after a couple of phases, Sam Underhill knocks on in a tackle.

74'

BATH 38-17 GLOUCESTER

Centre Seb Atkinson, who earned a full England cap this summer, comes off after injuring himself in a heavy clear-out.

72'

NO TRY! BATH 38-17 GLOUCESTER

Bath push deep into Gloucester territory.

Ewan Richards wins the ball at a 5m lineout and Kepu Tuipulotu drives forward.

Moments later, Joe Cokanasiga breaks through the middle and dives under the posts, but the TMO rules it out for a knock-on by Sam Underhill on the ground.

65'

TRY! BATH (RICHARDS) 38-17 GLOUCESTER

Ewan Richards, brought into the side after Bath lost both starting locks to injury last week, claims his second try of the game and it’s a beauty.

Finn Russell floats a pass for the second row to chase, and Richards powers in from 20m out. Russell adds the conversion.

60'

PENALTY! BATH (RUSSELL) 31-17 GLOUCESTER

Tomos Williams launches a box kick that goes nowhere, leaving his Gloucester teammates stranded offside.

Bath opt for the tee, and Finn Russell drills the ball cleanly between the posts.

57'

TRY! BATH 28-17 GLOUCESTER (LOADER)

Gloucester aren’t done yet. Will Joseph is leading the charge again, cutting inside and bursting through the Bath defense to reach the 22.

He’s eventually brought down, but the ball is kept alive and shifted wide to Ben Loader, who dives spectacularly in the corner, evading Josh Bayliss’s cover tackle.

Ross Byrne’s conversion from the right hits the near upright.

56'

BATH 28-12 GLOUCESTER

Tomos Williams sends a clever kick down the middle.

Max Ojomoh hustles back to clear it but ends up taking the ball off the back of his head.

53'

TRY! BATH 28-12 GLOUCESTER (THORLEY)

Gloucester are back in it.

From a lineout 10m out, the ball reaches the backs and Seb Atkinson fires a 25m pass to Ollie Thorley, who races to the corner, taking advantage of a missing Bath defender with Finn Russell in the sin bin.

Ross Byrne’s wide conversion hits the near upright and bounces out.

50'

BATH 28-7 GLOUCESTER

Gloucester go for the corner off the penalty against Finn Russell, but Matias Alemanno knocks on while trying to catch the ball at the top of the lifting pod.

Miles Reid is on for Pepper in the Bath back row.

49'

BATH 28-7 GLOUCESTER

Ciaran Knight and Ben Loader both deliver powerful carries.

At first it looks like Tomos Williams knocked on at the base of a ruck, but replays show Finn Russell kicked the ball from his hands while on the ground.

The Bath fly-half is sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

46'

BATH 28-7 GLOUCESTER

Ollie Lawrence secures the ball from a ruck, and Bath surge down the right through Joe Cokanasiga.

Ewan Richards snares a pass off his bootlaces and powers deep into the 22.

The forwards drive on with pick-and-go phases, but Gloucester hold firm, keeping the hosts out over the line.

45'

BATH 28-7 GLOUCESTER

Giant Bath winger Joe Cokanasiga is living up to his size today.

After fending off Ollie Thorley, he barrels through Tomos Williams while powering down the tram lines.

Williams manages to trip him just enough, leaving Cokanasiga tumbling over the Welshman’s body.

41'

KICK-OFF! BATH 28-7 GLOUCESTER

Finn Russell gets the second half underway at the Rec.

Afo Fasogbon comes on for Nepo Laulala.

Cokanasiga knocks on chasing his own kick-off and then touches down just before the referee blows for a stoppage.

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