Bath hold off Exeter in 11-try thriller for second straight win

Bath beat Exeter Chiefs 40-34 to make it two wins from two at the start of the new Prem season, England's top division of rugby union. The result was reported on 2 October 2026. BBC Sport

It was revenge of a sort. Bath lost to Exeter at the same ground in last season's Prem semi-final, a defeat that ended their reign as champions. BBC Sport

This time the teams shared 11 tries between them. A try, worth five points, is scored by touching the ball down over the opposition tryline. Bath led 26-10 at half-time and then had to hold on.

Exeter refused to go quietly. They kept finding the tryline in the second half and dragged the score back to a six-point game. Bath stood firm in the closing stages to bank the win.

The echo of last season was hard to miss. In that semi-final at the same venue, Exeter had trailed by 16 points at half-time before winning 27-26 by a single point. The Guardian

That one-point win sent Exeter through to the Premiership final. The play-offs are the end-of-season knockout rounds that decide the champions, with the top teams meeting in semi-finals and then a final. Bath, as defending champions, went out.

What makes this stand out is the familiarity. Bath started fast again. Exeter chased hard again. Last June it finished 27-26 to Exeter. This time it finished 40-34 to Bath.

For fans, this means an early marker. Two from two is a strong start in a league where momentum matters and every home win counts. Exeter leave with nothing on the table but proof they can score even when they are behind.

Expect both sides to be in the mix again. If June taught us anything, it is that Bath against Exeter rarely stays settled for long.