By Harry Mottram: In perhaps the defining moment of the season Bath’s talisman Finn Russell passed the ball to Max Ojomoh who scorred under the posts to help seal the win over Leicester in the 50th minute.
Yes, there was more work to do and the result was in doubt for a while as the Tigers hit back but when Russell booted the ball into the crowd on the final whistle Bath had finally secured the Gallagher Premiership making it a treble with the Premiership Rugby Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals 2025.
The 23-21 victory for the Blue Black and Whites at the Allianz Stadium vanquished last season’s disappointment at the death.
Bottom of the top flight three years ago Johann van Graan has take the side to the very top of the rugby union pyramid with a blend of attacking play, physicality and some mercurial performances from a team of all the talents.
On the day – the 14th June – it was a win secured by tries from Thomas du Toit and Max Ojomoh plus two conversions from Finn Russell along with three penalities from the Scottish international.
And for the record the starting XV were: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Miles Reid, 9 Ben Spencer ©, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Cameron Redpath,13 Max Ojomoh, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville; along with replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Alfie Barbeary.
The trains, coaches and cars heading up to Twickenham were a carnival of blue, black and white scarves, flags and shirts as supporters from across Somerset, Wiltshire and beyond decamped to the home of rugby.
Leicester Tigers led early on with a Jack van Poortvliet try on six minutes but Bath were able to overhaul the lead and by half time were 10-7 up. On the hour Bath were leading by 20-7 before that late surge by the Tigers with two tries and two conversions – but the Blue Black and Whites held on to clinch the win.
There were tears of joy and relief at the end and on Sunday an open top bus tour of the streets of the city saw thousands turn out to celebrate one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history.
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Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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