‘A victory for us all’

Head of rugby Johann van Graan has praised the solidarity that is right across the whole of Bath Rugby, saying "that is the beauty of what we have become" after prevailing in the EPCR Challenge Cup on Friday night, beating Lyon 37-12.

- Olly D'Arcy

It's the second trophy Bath have brought back to the Rec in 2024/25 after their Premiership Rugby Cup win in March, with a potential historic treble in the offing with the Premiership final on the horizon in June, following a home semi-final on June 6.

Bath's game started sluggishly, allowing the devastating attack of Lyon to score after just two minutes through winger Ethan Dumortier, catching the Blue, Back and White cold. Some ill-discipline made life just as difficult, with yellow cards for Sam Underhill and Will Muir reducing Bath to 13 men, but even so, Bath went into the changing rooms 17-5 ahead at the break, with a vital bit of defensive work keeping the French side out before the halftime whistle went.

Bath tallied their points through Tom Dunn and Max Ojomoh tries, while Finn Russell knocked over two conversions and a penalty.

However, as Blue, Black and White fans have been accustomed to seeing so many times this season, Bath took the game by the scruff of the neck and didn't give their opponents an inch, controlling all facets of the game to roll Lyon over and seal a second trophy of the season.

Captain and Player of the Match Ben Spencer, along with Beno Obano, scored Bath's second-half tries, while Russell knocked over two more penalties and a conversion.