Bath Rugby owner Bruce Craig's immense passion and investment were rewarded in the most dramatic fashion on Saturday, as a last-gasp try from replacement Arthur Green snatched a 33-26 victory from the jaws of defeat against a resurgent Exeter Chiefs.
A Dream Start and a Costly Red Card
The match at a packed Recreation Ground began in extraordinary fashion. Exeter's hopes of continuing their impressive second-half-of-2025 form suffered a massive blow after just two minutes. Rookie wing Campbell Ridl was justly shown a red card for taking out Bath's Henry Arundell in the air while competing for the ball. Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter later admitted the young player "got everything wrong" with his reckless, if non-violent, actions.
Facing fourteen men, Bath ran riot. They secured a bonus point inside the first quarter, with tries from Beno Obano, Alfie Barbeary, Santi Carreras and Ollie Lawrence – the latter marking his 50th appearance for the club. With the score at 26-0, the contest appeared over, a view shared by notable guests in the hospitality areas like former England captain Will Carling.
Exeter's Stunning Fightback
Exeter regained their full complement after 24 minutes under the 20-minute red card rule, with Dan John replacing Ridl. What followed was a remarkable demonstration of character from Baxter's side. Tries from Joseph Dweba and Olly Woodburn before half-time cut the deficit to 12 points.
The second half was a tighter, utterly compelling affair. The expert kicking of centre Henry Slade and further tries from Greg Fisilau and the lively Immanuel Feyi-Waboso brought Exeter level. A rare missed conversion from Slade, however, meant they never took the lead. Bath, who had shown such composure early on, were suddenly in deep trouble.
Green's Climactic Finish and Craig's Joy
Bath weathered the storm, regathered their own kick-off, and began a monumental 38-phase assault on the Exeter line. The pressure finally told in the 79th minute when Arthur Green finished the move to seal a dramatic 33-26 victory.
The scenes in owner Bruce Craig's private box were euphoric. The businessman, who has invested millions into the club since 2010, jumped for joy, punched the air and embraced chief executive Tarquin McDonald in a bear hug. "I have so much respect for Bruce for the way he lets us get on with the rugby," said Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan. "I'm so glad he's happy... The players want to give them great moments and that was a great moment."
Van Graan praised his team's first-half display as possibly their best this season, while a philosophical Rob Baxter compared the finale to watching The Great Escape. He noted the positives for Exeter, including the fine form of No. 8 Greg Fisilau – now a contender for England's Six Nations squad – and the leadership of captain Dafydd Jenkins.
For Bath, the thrilling finale provided the perfect response to their comprehensive defeat by Northampton, and for their passionate owner Bruce Craig, a moment of pure, unbridled joy.
