Strong finish to pre-season as Bath humiliate young Glasgow side
Bath Rugby brought their pre-season schedule to a convincing close with a 53-5 victory over a youthful Glasgow Warriors outfit at Old Anniesland. In a wet and testing match, the hosts were unable to contain a Bath side featuring several returning internationals, who raced into a 22-0 half-time lead and put the game beyond doubt in the second period.
The scoreboard told the story: tries from Bernard van der Linde and Joe Cokanasiga, plus a brace from Santi Carreras in the first half, established a commanding advantage. Bath continued to score after a raft of second-half changes, with Cam Redpath grabbing two, van der Linde adding a second, and further touchdowns from Ollie Lawrence and Claudius Wheeler. Glasgow’s Alex Bryden crossed for their only score.
"Sensational homecoming"
That headline phrase, applied to Finn Russell’s return, was borne out in the performance. The Scotland international orchestrated Bath’s play with several neat touches and offloads in atrocious conditions, earning the highest rating from local observers.
Stand-outs and squad performance
Several Bath players drew praise for their work on the night. The backs carried much of the attacking threat in the first half, while the forwards laid the foundations that allowed quick, incisive ball movement.
- Finn Russell was the standout, his composure and craft in wet conditions noted as pivotal to Bath’s attacking fluency.
- Santi Carreras scored two first-half tries and was praised for his handling and positional awareness in difficult weather.
- Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh were described as solid in defence, their physicality helping to repel Glasgow’s advances.
Several players who started were replaced in the second half as Bath used the contest to give game time to squad members heading into the competitive season. The replacements continued the momentum, ensuring the lead was extended rather than merely protected.
Individual ratings (selection)
Local match reports provided player-by-player assessments. A selection of those ratings reads as follows:
| Player | Rating | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Santi Carreras | 7 | Two tries; composed at the back in poor conditions. |
| Joe Cokanasiga | 6 | Took his try and covered well in defence. |
| Ollie Lawrence | 7 | Key defensive reads and a score. |
| Max Ojomoh | 7 | Strong defensively; moved to wing in second half. |
| Tom de Glanville | 6 | Solid in defence but quieter in attack. |
| Finn Russell | 9 | Sculpted the attack; deft offloads and game management. |
What this means for Bath ahead of the season
The match offered encouraging signs for Bath supporters. The presence and form of internationals returning to the squad, particularly in key playmaking positions, will lift expectations as the club transitions into competitive fixtures. The coaching team will also have gleaned useful information from the contributions of squad players who enjoyed extended minutes in the second half.
For Glasgow, the encounter was an opportunity to blood younger players against high-quality opposition; for Bath it was a final dress rehearsal that combined entertainment with substantive evidence of depth. With fitness, combinations and game plans all tightened up in a win where both the heads and the bench impressed, Bath will head into the opening rounds of the season with momentum and selection options to ponder.
Local supporters will be keen to see how the form shown at Old Anniesland translates to the Recreation Ground when the competitive fixtures begin. The warm-up is over; the season starts now.
