Green’s late try saves Bath after Exeter’s stunning comeback

WRAP: Arthur Green struck in the 79th minute to snatch victory for Bath after Exeter completed a remarkable fightback from 0-26 down, only to see their resistance finally broken in the closing moments and move back to the top of the PREM table.

The Chiefs’ task became daunting almost immediately when winger Joseph Ridl was shown a 20-minute red card just two minutes into the contest, leaving Exeter a man down and vulnerable.

Bath wasted little time in capitalising, tearing into the depleted defence as Beno Obano, Alfie Barbeary, Santiago Carreras and Ollie Lawrence all crossed to give the hosts a commanding 26-0 advantage.

To their credit, Exeter refused to fold. Hooker Joseph Dweba and winger Ollie Woodburn clawed back two crucial scores before the interval, injecting belief into the visitors and shifting the momentum heading into the second half.

That resurgence gathered pace after the break as Greg Fisilau and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso both touched down, completing an extraordinary comeback to haul the Chiefs level at 26-26 and silence the home crowd.

Just as it appeared Exeter might salvage an unlikely draw, Bath found one final response. With time almost up, Green forced his way over to restore the lead and secure a dramatic win, ensuring Bath emerged with the spoils after a chaotic and gripping encounter.

*Alex Coles stole the spotlight with a hat-trick of tries as Northampton Saints ran riot, piling on 10 tries in a crushing 66-21 Premiership victory over Harlequins on Saturday night.

The flanker completed his treble with the final act of the contest, capping a dominant start to the new year for Saints in front of a sold-out cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. From the outset, Phil Dowson’s side set the tempo, racing into control and taking a commanding 33-14 lead into the break.

Saints tightened their grip early in the second half, pinning Quins deep in their own territory and steadily building pressure to extend their advantage. JJ van der Mescht twice went close to adding to the scoreline, first losing control as he stretched for the line and then being held up by desperate Harlequins defence.

Despite those near misses, the Saints’ relentless momentum was never in doubt.

Coles eventually crossed for his third try in the closing moments to complete the rout and underline a ruthless all-round performance as the hosts cruised to an emphatic statement win.

Find all Saturday’s scores and scorers below…

Bath 33-26 Exeter

The scorers:

For Bath:
Tries: Obano, Barbeary, Carreras, Lawrence, Green
Cons: Russell 4

For Exeter:
Tries: Dweba, Woodburn, Fisilau, Feyi-Waboso
Cons: Slade 3

Teams:

Bath: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (captain), 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Ross Molony, 4 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano,
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Scott Kirk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Louie Hennessey, 23 Arthur Green

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Olly Woodburn, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Campbell Ridl, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Ethan Roots, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Scott Sio,
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Kane James, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Dan John

Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dean Richards

Northampton Saints 64-21 Harlequins

The scorers:

For Northampton:
Tries: Fischetti 2, Coles 3, Mitchell 2, Todaro 2, F Smith
Cons: F Smith 7

For Harlequins:
Tries: Cleaves, Dombrandt 2
Cons: M Smith 3

Teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 George Hendy, 14 Edoardo Todaro, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 11 James Ramm, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 8 Callum Chick, 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 2 Robbie Smith, 1 Danilo Fischetti,
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Oliver Scola, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 Ed Prowse, 20 Sam Graham, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Rory Hutchinson

Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Jarrod Evans, 11 Cassius Cleaves, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Lucas Friday; 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Jack Kenningham, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizábal, 3 Harry Williams, 2 George Turner, 1 Will Hobson,
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Elliot Williams, 20 Joe Launchbury, 21 Zach Carr, 22 Will Porter, 23 Bryn Bradley

Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dean Richards