Bath 36-28 Sale Sharks: Joe Cokanasiga double helps hosts return to winning ways

Joe Cokanasiga scored twice as Bath beat Sale Sharks 36-28 at the Recreation Ground, securing a bonus-point victory despite conceding two late tries.

The Bath vs Sale Sharks result brought a response to the hosts’ defeat at Gloucester. Henry Arundell, Tom de Glanville and Louie Hennessey also crossed, while Finn Russell contributed 11 points with four conversions and a penalty.

Sale’s late scores through Luke Cowan-Dickie and Elia Canakaivata secured a four-try bonus point, but the visitors finished eight points behind and missed out on a second bonus point for a narrow defeat.

Bath led 19-7 at half-time and extended their advantage to 36-14 before Sale’s final response.

Bath vs Sale Sharks: Cokanasiga scores either side of half-time

Arundell opened the scoring on his return to the starting side, with Russell converting. Sale responded through Nathan Jibulu, whose try and George Ford’s conversion brought the scores level at 7-7.

De Glanville restored Bath’s advantage before Cokanasiga scored his first try, giving the hosts a 12-point cushion at the interval.

The winger crossed again early in the second half to complete his double and secure Bath’s fourth try. Russell’s conversion made it 26-7, leaving Sale needing a substantial recovery.

Tom O’Flaherty supplied an immediate response for the visitors, but Bath scored the next 10 points through a Russell penalty and Hennessey’s converted try.

The official Bath match centre records the scorers and kicking returns.

Sale’s late tries earn one bonus point

Hennessey’s score put Bath 22 points ahead, a margin Sale reduced with converted tries from Cowan-Dickie and Canakaivata.

Ford finished with four conversions from Sale’s four tries. His final kick brought the score to 36-28, leaving the visitors just outside the seven-point margin required for a losing bonus point.

The late recovery therefore changed Sale’s return from the afternoon without changing the result. They collected one league point for their four tries, while Bath took the maximum five.

For Bath, the closing scores reduced a commanding advantage but did not undo the work of their attack. All five of their tries came through backs, with Cokanasiga accounting for two and the returning Arundell and de Glanville both scoring.

What the result means for Bath and Sale

Bath have won three and lost two of their opening five Premiership matches, taking their points total to 16. Sale have two wins and three defeats, with 10 points.

The result leaves six points between the clubs after they began the afternoon separated by two. Bath’s bonus-point victory increased that gap by four.

Bath had lost their previous league match 23-5 at Gloucester, while Sale arrived after a 17-3 defeat at Newcastle Red Bulls. The visitors have now suffered successive Premiership defeats.

Our Bath vs Sale Sharks team-news guide covers the selections and pre-match absences. The Bath website confirms the club’s updated record and points total.

Arundell and de Glanville make scoring returns

Bath’s team announcement had confirmed Arundell’s return on the left wing and de Glanville’s at full-back, alongside Cokanasiga on the right.

That starting back three supplied four of Bath’s five tries. Hennessey, named among the replacements, added the other.

Ben Spencer captained the hosts alongside Russell at half-back, with Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence selected in midfield.

Bath vs Sale Sharks match facts

Detail	Information
Result	Bath 36-28 Sale Sharks
Half-time	Bath 19-7 Sale Sharks
Competition	Premiership Rugby, Round 5
Date	Saturday 31 October 2026
Venue	Recreation Ground, Bath
Bath tries	Henry Arundell, Tom de Glanville, Joe Cokanasiga (2), Louie Hennessey
Sale tries	Nathan Jibulu, Tom O’Flaherty, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elia Canakaivata
Bath kicking	Finn Russell: four conversions, one penalty
Sale kicking	George Ford: four conversions
League points earned	Bath five, Sale one