Bath boost play-off hopes with dramatic derby win over Gloucester

BATH 31 GLOUCESTER 20

Bath staged a stunning fightback to stay on course for the Gallagher Premiership playoffs by beating west country rivals Gloucester 31-20 at the Recreation Ground.

Gloucester led by 17 points entering the final quarter, but Bath moved second in the table after hook er Tom Dunn touched down twice in five minutes, before prop Lewis Boyce powered over and scrum-half Ben Spencer added a 78th-minute bonuspoint score.

Stand-off Rhys Priest land kicked four conversions and a penalty, and victory over Saracens in their final regular season game on Sunday week will secure a top-four finish.

Gloucester conceded 28 points during the final 19 minutes, and they could scarcely believe what had hit them.

Tries by centre Chris Harris and former Bath player Matt Banahan put Gloucester in the driving seat, with Billy Twelvetrees kicking ten points, yet it ultimately proved nowhere near enough.

The game was played behind closed doors after Bath’s hopes of welcoming 1,000 spectators at Premiership rugby’s latest pilot event were dashed only hours before kick-off. Concern over a second wave of coronavirus infections has resulted in plans for supporters to attend sports venues in England from 1 October to be placed on hold as part of additional new restrictions announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. ● Scottish referee Mike Adamson will be in the middle for the European Challenge Cup semi-final between RC Toulon and Leicester Tigers at Stade Félix Mayol on Saturday.

Kick-off in Toulon is at 8pm

UK time, with the winners advancing to a final against Bristol Bears or BordeauxBègles.

Former Scotland Sevens international Adamson was due to take charge of last Sunday’s quarter-final between Leicester and Castres Olympique but the game was cancelled after three Castres players, as well as one staff member, tested positive for coro - navirus ahead of their trip to Welford Road.