Bristol keep season alive with tense win over Bath

Bristol secured a crucial 21-19 victory over reigning Premiership champions Bath at Ashton Gate, keeping their hopes of reaching the play-offs alive. After trailing 19-7 at halftime, Bristol scored 14 unanswered points in the second half, including a penalty try and a try from Max Lahiff, to complete a hard-fought comeback. The win narrows the gap between Bristol and fourth-placed Exeter to just one point with one game remaining in the regular season. Bath, missing key playmaker Finn Russell, failed to score in the second half and missed the chance to secure a top-two finish. Bath started strongly, with Ollie Lawrence and Guy Pepper scoring tries in the first half, supported by a try from Thomas du Toit and two conversions from Donoghue. Bristol’s captain Fitz Harding responded with a try before the break despite breaking his hand early in the match. The turning point came early in the second half when Bath’s Henry Arundell was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on, resulting in a penalty try for Bristol. Although Bath briefly threatened with a disallowed try and a late penalty attempt from full-back Santi Carreras, Bristol held firm to claim the win. The victory was a significant morale boost for Bristol and their director of rugby, Pat Lam, who praised the team’s resilience and commitment despite injuries to key players including Harding and Ellis Genge. Lam highlighted the players’ determination to channel their emotions into performance, maintaining Bristol’s unbeaten record against Bath at Ashton Gate during his tenure. Bath’s director of rugby Johann van Graan acknowledged the disappointment of missing out on a top-two finish but the match underscored the competitive intensity of the Premiership’s closing stages as teams jostle for playoff positioning. Bristol now face Sale in their final league game, with their play-off fate still in their own hands.