First half performance guides Bath to 28-16 win over Sale Sharks

Bath Rugby 28-16 Sale Sharks, The Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby produced a commanding display at The Rec to overcome Sale Sharks 28–16 in a fiercely contested Prem clash.

A blistering first half, built on tries from Henry Arundell, Cameron Redpath, and Beno Obano, set the platform before Max Ojomoh’s late try sealed the win. George Ford kept Sale in touch with his boot, but Bath’s balance of power and precision proved decisive.

The match opened with Sale striking first through the boot of George Ford, who slotted a penalty in the second minute for a 3–0 lead. Bath responded almost immediately when Henry Arundell showed his finishing class in the sixth minute, touching down to give the hosts the edge. Ben Spencer added the conversion to make it 7–3.

Sale fought back and narrowed the gap in the 19th minute when Ford executed a neat drop goal to reduce the deficit to a single point at 7–6. Bath, however, turned the screw as their pack began to dominate. Cameron Redpath stormed over in the 24th minute, and Spencer’s conversion stretched the margin to 14–6.

Ford responded again for Sale, this time with another drop goal in the 33rd minute, keeping the scoreboard ticking at 14–9. But the momentum soon shifted sharply. Just a minute later, Ernst van Rhyn was shown a yellow card, leaving Sale a man down.

Bath capitalised instantly, with prop Beno Obano powering over in the 35th minute. Spencer added the extras, and Bath went into the interval with a strong 21–9 lead.

Sale emerged from the break determined to claw their way back into the contest. Their persistence was rewarded in the 47th minute when Nathan Jibulu crossed for a try, converted by Ford, closing the gap to 21–16. For a spell, Sale had the better of the exchanges, pressuring Bath and forcing errors.

In the 74th minute, Bath had a chance to extend their lead through a penalty, but Spencer’s kick drifted wide, leaving the contest delicately poised at 21–16.

The decisive moment came just three minutes later. Max Ojomoh broke through the Sale defence in the 77th minute to score Bath’s fourth try of the match sealing a bonus point as well. Spencer converted to push the score out to 28–16, effectively ending Sale’s hopes of a late comeback.

Sale’s discipline faltered again late on, with Willgriff John shown a yellow card in the 79th minute, and Bath closed out the match comfortably in front of their home crowd.