Bath blow away Exeter to win first trophy since 2008 under guidance of Andy Robinson
Exeter 14 Bath 48
There was once a time when Bath Rugby ruled supreme, dominating the English rugby landscape with a style of play, which for years saw them rewarded with its fair share of silverware.
During that golden era, they set the standard for success, often with the old warhorse Andy Robinson at the heart of it all.
Now, almost two decades later, Robinson – the former England and Scotland head coach – has once again played his part in Bath’s latest triumph – a 48-14 success over Exeter Chiefs in this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup final – bringing to an end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy.
After years of near misses, including last season’s Premiership Rugby final, the trophy cabinet at the famous Recreation Ground can at last finally dust off the cobwebs.
Is that the one?
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 16, 2025
Tom Dunn may well have secured Bath's first trophy in 17 years! 🏉#PremRugbyCup | #EXEvBATpic.twitter.com/h0n6hSsEZG
In a powerful display, the Blue, Black and Whites delivered when it mattered most, showing resilience and determination to secure silverware for the first time since the 2007-08 season, when they defeated Worcester Warriors to lift the European Challenge Cup.
For a club who were serial winners, bossing the domestic scene between the 80s and 90s, the wait has been far too long for those die-hard supporters who regularly pack into the Roman city.
Robinson, who was at the helm for Bath’s cup campaign, acknowledged as much afterwards, saying the success was as much about the change in mindset brought about by head coach Johann van Graan over the last few years, as well as the unrelenting support they continue to glean from their die-hard fan base who, it is fair to say, have had to endure their fair share of woes during that period.
“I’m delighted for the supporters, the players, the management, particularly Johann for creating this special group of people,” said Robinson, Bath’s assistant coach. “I want to thank him for allowing me to come back in and be part of it, I’ve really enjoyed it.
“When you look at the way we’ve approached the competition this year, it’s about being able to give young players opportunities to perform, to show what it means for them to play, and how they can really put their hand up to be part of this special club.”
The way in which Bath went about seeing off the Chiefs – on their own turf for that matter – was mightily impressive. The first half was an evenly contested affair, one which saw Exeter grab converted tries through Christ Tshiunza and Scott Sio, while Bath replied with efforts of their own through Tom Carr-Smith and Joe Cokanasiga, both of which were converted by Ciaran Donoghue, who also landed a penalty to give them a slender three-point lead at the turn.
The second half, though, was a completely different affair, Bath running riot – aided by the introduction of their own mini ‘bomb squad’ – with scores from Thomas du Toit, Ewan Richards, Louis Schreuder and Tom Dunn, the latter bagging a brace.
Over the years Bath have had to tough it out, including finishing bottom of the pile in the Premiership in the 2021-22 season, but these are halcyon days and under Van Graan you feel the good times are returning once more.
“Over the years it’s not been through a lack of effort from everybody,” said Robinson. “I think what you’ve seen is a real togetherness and alignment from everybody involved in the club, but also you’ve seen young players now that are fighting for places and competing to get places and pushing. So therefore our standards are improving consistently.
“Johann always talks about when he first joined the club that it was about hope that we can win matches. Now, there’s a real belief amongst everybody that we’ll win the match, whether we play at home or away, it doesn’t matter who we play against, there’s a belief that we understand how to win matches. Do things well, execute well, we win matches.”
It is a simple philosophy, but one that clearly works.
For the Chiefs, who on this day 11 years ago once their first piece of major silverware as a top-flight club, questions will certainly be asked. Having made no secret of the fact that they were chasing a fourth success in the competition, their insistence on playing a full-strength side throughout, came with its own risk.
“It probably sums up where we are this season,” said coach Ricky Pellow. “We’ve taken some steps forward, but also when we come under a little bit of pressure we need to work out how we can maintain our game under pressure.”
Match details
Scoring sequence: Tshiunza try (5-0), Hodge con (7-0), Carr-Smith try (7-5), Donoghue con (7-7), Cokanasiga try (7-12), Donoghue con (7-14), Sio try (12-14), Hodge con (14-14), Donoghue pen (14-17), Du Toit try (14-22), Donoghue con (14-24), Dunn try (14-29), Donoghue con (14-31), Richards try (14-36), Dunn con (14-41), Donoghue con (14-43), Schreuder try (14-48)
Exeter Chiefs: T Wyatt (W Haydon-Wood 9); P Brown-Bampoe, J Hawkins, T Tua (W Rigg 61), J Hodge; H Skinner, S Townsend (T Cairns 50); S Sio (K Blose 57), J Yeandle (c, L Pearson 67), J Iosefa-Scott (M Street 57); F Molina (D Frost 60), C Tshiunza; E Roots (R Capstick 29), J Vermeulen (F Molina 63-77), G Fisilau.
Yellow Card: Yeandle
Bath Rugby: A Emens; J Cokanasiga (M Ojomoh 30), C Redpath, W Butt, R McConnochie; C Donoghue, T Carr-Smith (L Schreuder 66); A Cordwell (B Obano 40), J Spandler (T Dunn 15-27, 40), K Verden (T du Toit 40); W Jeanes (M Reid 50), E Richards (c, M Reid 46-50); A Green (G Pepper 40), E Staddon, A Barbeary. (J Coetzee 55).
Referee: S Cox
Attendance: 11,182
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