Bath miss chance to top Prem after defeat at Exeter

Reigning champions Bath missed the chance to go top of The Prem as they lost 35-12 at Exeter. The Chiefs - playing for the first time since members approved an American-backed takeover of the club - were 6-0 up when Bath's Quinn Roux was given a 20-minute red card for a head-on-head clash with Henry Slade. Josh Iosefa-Scott went over for the hosts soon after, but Dan Frost responded as Bath did well with a man down.

Both sides had a player sin-binned in the first 15 minutes of the second half as Paul Brown-Bampoe extended the hosts' lead before Sam Underhill pulled a try back for Bath. But Australia international Len Ikitau's try with 15 minutes remaining ensured an Exeter win before Campbell Ridl sprinted over with five minutes left to earn a bonus point. Exeter's first league win over Bath since December 2022 lifts them five points above Bristol and into fourth place.

Meanwhile, the champions failed to take advantage of Northampton's heavy derby loss at Leicester on Saturday and remain in second place - two points behind Saints. Campbell Ridl scored his 15th try in all competitions this season for Exeter With a strong wind at the hosts' backs, Slade kicked two penalties before Roux was dismissed after colliding with Slade as the Exeter fly-half gathered a high ball. Four minutes later Exeter broke through - Iosefa-Scott forcing his way in from close range after Ikitau's fleet-footed line break.

But Bath impressively weathered the remaining time with a man down - and hit back well - their forwards won a penalty and from the resulting lineout former Exeter favourite Frost steered the maul over the line. While Exeter had the better of the possession with the wind in their favour, too often small errors curbed their attacking intent as they led by eight points at the break. Bath were further hampered when Tom de Glanville was sent to the sin-bin five minutes after the break and Exeter took advantage almost immediately when Brown-Bampoe got on the end of a flowing move in the left corner for his 10th try of the season.