Finn Russell returns to lead Bath past Gloucester to consolidate lead at top

03/23/2025 01:22 PM

• Bath 42-26 Gloucester
• Leaders score six tries against West Country rivals

Bath remain the team to catch in the Premiership race this season, on the evidence of this entertaining victory over West Country rivals Gloucester. Assisted by the return of their chief playmaker Finn Russell following the Six Nations the hosts scored six tries and, in a neat piece of symmetry, are six points clear of the field with six regular‑season fixtures to play.

It has been an uplifting month for Bath, who won the Premiership Cup last weekend to secure their first trophy for 17 years, and here was another example of their significant squad depth. Gloucester were right in the contest for long periods, with Santi Carreras outstanding as a creative force, but Bath's superior forward resources were underlined by second-half tries off the bench for the England forwards Will Stuart and Sam Underhill.