Exeter's Triumph Over Bath Boosts Playoff Hopes as Harlequins Dominate Newcastle
Exeter Chiefs delivered a decisive blow to Bath Rugby's title aspirations with a 35-12 victory at Sandy Park on October 14, 2023. The reigning champions, Bath, fell short of taking the top spot in the Gallagher Premiership as Exeter capitalized on a red card for Quinn Roux and a yellow for Tom de Glanville, propelling them towards a playoff berth. Josh Iosefa-Scott, Paul Brown-Bampoe, Len Ikitau, and Campbell Ridl each crossed the line for Exeter, while Henry Slade contributed with three penalties and two conversions, alongside a conversion from Harvey Skinner. Bath’s response came from Dan Frost and Sam Underhill, with Finn Russell converting one try. Exeter quickly took control, with Slade securing an early penalty, and Bath's struggles mounted as they conceded three penalties in the first 12 minutes. The turning point arrived when Roux received a red card for a high tackle, allowing Exeter to exploit the numerical advantage. Ikitau's try extended Exeter's lead to 13-0 by the end of the first quarter. Despite Bath's efforts, including Frost's try from a driving maul, they could not match Exeter's clinical finishing. The second half saw Bath further hampered by a yellow card for de Glanville, leading to Brown-Bampoe's try. Ridl and Ikitau added further tries, with Slade completing the scoring with a penalty. In another match, Harlequins overwhelmed Newcastle Falcons with a staggering 76-17 victory. Jamie Benson starred with a hat-trick, contributing to a total of twelve tries for the Quins. The first half saw them race to a 45-10 lead, with notable performances from Cadan Murley, Sam Riley, and Marcus Smith. The result marked a significant win for Harlequins, securing their fourth victory of the season.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-05-10