Bath Rugby rise to third after bonus-point win over Sale Sharks

Bath Rugby rise to third in the table after securing a 37-22 bonus-point win over Sale Sharks in Round 20 of the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday. 

The Blue, Black and White came from behind to beat Sale Sharks, who were looking to add their fifth win in a row in the domestic competition. 

Scores from Ruaridh McConnochie, who is now the leading try scorer in consecutive games (6), a brace from Ben Spencer and a late try from Jonathan Joseph to secure all five points came back to the West Country. 

Sale were ahead in the early stages through Rohan Janse van Rensburg after a good burst of pace from the centre but it was short lived as McConnochie benefitted from a neat offload to score in the corner to level the proceedings. 

Rhys Priestland added a penalty to give Bath the lead before Spencer added a scrappy score in the corner. This gave Bath Rugby a 10-point lead at half-time.

After the interval, it was all guns blazing - Jean-Luc du Preez crashed over from close range bumping off three defenders to score but Priestland replied with a couple of well hit penalties to tide the score over. 

Spencer then added his second in spectacular style with an interception but Sale Sharks were not done there - a late score from South African Dan du Preez added a late scare but the final nail was hit by Joseph, who dashed in under the posts to dot down for the decisive bonus-point score. 

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KEY MOMENT 

The Bath Rugby fly-half earns this week's key moment having converted two penalties in quick succession to give Bath Rugby an eight point swing in the game which proved decisive. Just six minutes after this, Ben Spencer added another try to stretch the score further.

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REACTION

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SCORERS

Sale Sharks

Tries: Rohan Janse van Rensburg (4'), Jean-Luc du Preez (52'), Dan du Preez (73')

Conversions: AJ MacGinty (4', 74')

Penalties: AJ MacGinty (58')

Bath Rugby

Tries: Ruaridh McConnochie (20'), Ben Spencer (30', 69'), Jonathan Joseph (78') 

Conversions: Rhys Priestland (21', 31', 70', 79')

Penalties: Rhys Priestland (24', 61', 63')

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GALLERY