Bath Rugby vs Harlequins Premiership Rugby Cup Quarter-Final Match Report

Image credits: Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images

The Bath Rugby team, led by captain Ewan Richards, took on Harlequins at the Recreation Ground on Friday night in the quarter-final of the 2024/25 Premiership Rugby Cup. The Blue, Black and White were beaten 40-21 away at Bristol Bears last time out, but still managed to finish top of Pool D to secure a home tie in the knockout rounds. Harlequins also finished top of their group in Pool C, despite a 29-30 defeat at home to Saracens in their last match, making this weekend's game a highly anticipated one.

The game kicked off at 7.45pm on Friday night, with Bath looking to utilize their power game to overcome the visitors. The team news was announced at midday on Thursday, with Arthur Cordwell, Jasper Spandler, and Kieran Verden starting in the front row for Bath. The back row consisted of skipper Ewan Richards, Ethan Staddon, and Arthur Green, while Tom Carr-Smith and Ciaran Donoghue got their opportunity in the half-backs. Cameron Redpath and Louie Hennessey started in the centres, with Ruaridh McConnochie, Tyler Offiah, and Tom de Glanville in the back three.

Harlequins, on the other hand, made eight changes to the side that ran out at The Stoop two weeks ago in a narrow defeat to Saracens. Jordan Els, Sam Riley, and Titi Lamositele packed down in the front row, with locks Irne Herbst and skipper Joe Launchbury in the engine room. George Hammond, Will Evans, and Lucas Schmid made up the back row, with Jake Murray and Jarrod Evans starting in the half-backs. Ben Waghorn and Will Joseph started in the centres, with Cameron Anderson, Rodrigo Isgro, and Tyrone Green in the back three. The match saw a number of turning points, including a late try from Tom Carr-Smith to add to the earlier score from Tom de Glanville, making the game interesting for Bath after an explosive start from Quins.

The final score was 39-28 in favor of Bath, with the home team winning the second half 25-0 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Premiership Rugby Cup. The team will play Newcastle Falcons away at Kingston Park next Friday night in the semi-final. Some of the key match statistics include:

• Match score: 39-28
• Bath tries: Tom Carr-Smith, Tom de Glanville, Arthur Green, Louie Hennessey, Tom Dunn
• Harlequins tries: Tyrone Green, Will Joseph, Ben Waghorn, Rodrigo Isgro
• Conversion attempts: Ciaran Donoghue (4/6)

The win was a testament to Bath's teamwork and determination, and they will look to carry this momentum into their next match.

The Premiership Rugby Cup is a competition that provides a platform for teams to develop their players and test their skills against other top-tier teams. The tournament features eight teams competing in a knockout format, with the winner advancing to the next round. The competition is an important part of the rugby calendar, and teams are eager to perform well and make a deep run in the tournament. With the semi-finals approaching, Bath will look to continue their strong form and make a push for the championship title.

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