In a thrilling Gallagher Premiership encounter, Henry Arundell emerged as the hero for Bath, scoring a dramatic late try to secure a crucial 36-29 victory over title rivals Saracens on Sunday 30 November 2025.
The win, achieved at Saracens' home ground in north London, propelled Bath two points clear at the top of the league table, marking a significant statement of intent following the international break.
A Grandstand Finish in North London
With the fierce rivals seemingly destined for a 29-29 draw, the match was decided in the 76th minute by a moment of individual brilliance. Arundell pounced to run in his second try of the afternoon, having also opened the scoring for the champions with an early intercept.
The decisive moment was crafted by Arundell's England team-mate Max Ojomoh, a final-quarter replacement who delivered another influential performance. Ojomoh skilfully gathered a low pass from fly-half Finn Russell before charging forward and timing his final pass to perfection, putting Arundell in for the match-winning score.
Bath's Impressive Comeback Story
The victory completed a remarkable comeback for Bath, who had to overcome a lacklustre start that saw them fall 14-0 behind in the early stages. Saracens appeared unstoppable initially, plundering tries on each of their first two visits to the 22.
Max Malins and Juan Martin Gonzalez both crossed the line, rounding off precise and ambitious attacks orchestrated by the home side. The first try came after an interchange down the left with Lucio Cinti, while Tom Willis's carry and off-load were instrumental in the second, though Willis later limped off injured.
Bath's fightback began with a Finn Russell penalty, followed swiftly by Arundell's spectacular 80-metre intercept try. The visitors stayed in the hunt with a line-out maul finished by Tom Dunn, and their power game continued to serve them well after the break.
The Turning Point and Final Flourish
Bath took the lead for the first time in the 54th minute through a moment of deception from Ben Spencer, who passed a tap penalty to Will Butt to score. They then registered the bonus point when Arthur Green finished a sweeping move that included strong supporting roles from Josh Bayliss, Arundell, and Spencer.
Saracens fought back to level the scores at 29-29 after Gonzalez finished a series of forward drives, setting up a tense finale. Elliot Daly, making his first appearance for Saracens since the British and Irish Lions tour, nudged a long-range penalty attempt wide before Arundell had the final say with his winning try just five minutes from time.
This crucial victory for Bath not only gives them breathing room at the Premiership summit but also delivers a psychological blow to one of their main title rivals, setting up a fascinating second half of the season.
