Bath 36-44 Gloucester: Ross Byrne’s 19 points settle cup derby

Ross Byrne scored 19 points as Gloucester beat Bath 44-36 at the Recreation Ground, recovering after the hosts erased a 14-point half-time deficit.

Ben Redshaw scored twice for the visitors, who crossed for five tries in Saturday’s PREM Rugby Cup derby. Byrne converted all five and added three penalties, with his final kick denying Bath a losing bonus point.

It was Gloucester’s second victory over their West Country rivals this season, following their league win at Kingsholm in October.

Bath vs Gloucester: visitors make fast start

Gloucester quickly established control. Mikey Austin’s work down the blindside helped create the opening for Redshaw to score, before Jasper Spandler replied from a Bath driving maul.

The visitors then struck twice in quick succession. Josiah Edwards-Giraud crossed after Bath failed to secure the restart, and Redshaw added his second following a break from Josh Hathaway and a deft pass from Byrne.

That left Bath trailing 21-5.

Will Muir scored on his return from injury, but Gloucester soon secured their try bonus when Hathaway gathered Byrne’s kick to cross.

Jack Woods kept Bath in contention with their third try. A Byrne penalty then sent Gloucester into half-time with a 31-17 lead.

Bath fight back to level the scores

The hosts changed the contest with two tries early in the second half.

With Gloucester lock Joe Joyce in the sin bin, Spandler claimed his second from another driving maul. Tyler Offiah then finished a flowing attack, and Bath’s conversions brought them level at 31-31.

Gloucester’s response proved decisive.

After a Bath attack broke down, Redshaw recovered possession and produced a 50-22 kick to give the visitors an attacking lineout. Captain Harry Taylor crossed from close range, with Byrne converting before adding a penalty to establish a 41-31 lead.

The Rugby Paper’s scoring summary records Taylor’s try as Gloucester’s fifth and final touchdown.

Byrne’s late penalty settles the result

Bath continued to press and eventually found another breakthrough when replacement Max Pearce scored from a late maul.

The missed conversion left them five points behind at 41-36. Byrne then landed his third penalty to put Gloucester eight clear and complete the scoring.

Bath finished with six tries to Gloucester’s five, but Byrne’s accuracy from the tee made the difference. His five conversions and three penalties accounted for 19 of the visitors’ 44 points.

The hosts earned a try bonus point, although the final penalty took the losing bonus out of reach.

For Gloucester, it was a bonus-point victory built on an impressive first half and a strong response when Bath threatened to take control after the break.

Bath’s official match page has further details. Follow more club results and fixtures on our Premiership Rugby hub.