Bath banished the memories of last season’s Premiership final defeat with a commanding 38-16 victory over reigning champions Northampton Saints, setting the tone for their 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership campaign.
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After suffering a narrow 25-21 loss to Saints in last season’s final, Bath fielded 13 players from that match and looked eager to make a statement. From the opening minutes, the home side dominated with a series of bone-crunching tackles, while Northampton appeared off the pace compared to their title-winning form.
Spencer Stars with Leadership and Influence
Captain Ben Spencer was at the heart of Bath’s impressive display, earning the man-of-the-match award with a try, a try assist, and his trademark influence at the gainline.
His performance caught the eye of England head coach Steve Borthwick, who was watching from the stands.
With Northampton’s Alex Mitchell unavailable due to injury, Spencer seized the moment, delivering the kind of performance that has become his hallmark in recent seasons.
While other scrum halves may have greater flair on the international stage, none are as consistently vital to their team as Spencer.
“For him to come and deliver that performance was special,” Bath head coach Johann van Graan said. “Ben is a winner, and since he became captain, he’s only improved. He has big dreams in international rugby, but he’s completely focused on leading Bath.”
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