Braves 17 Bath 18

Exeter Braves 17

Bath United 18

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

For the second time in two days, it was Bath Rugby who emerged triumphant against local rivals Exeter.

Whereas Saturday was all about local bragging rights and vital points at the top end of the Aviva Premiership, this latest match-up proved equally competitive as the visitors ensured themselves of a place in the semi-finals of this season's A League.

In an often tight encounter, second half tries from Bath wingers Darren Atkins and Semesa Rokoduguni proved the key difference , while fly-half Ollie Devoto slotted two penalties and a conversion to wrap up their success.

The Braves, frustrated as they will be, offered plenty on the night courtesy of converted tries from Sam Simmonds and Byron McGuigan - but it was not enough, even though former Welsh international Ceri Sweeney could have won the contest had he landed a lengthy penalty with the last kick of the game.

With so much at stake for both sides, it was little surprise that the Westcountry rivals each paraded a plethora of experienced stars for this tussle. The Braves handed a first start for England international Tom Johnson since his recent neck operation - and he was joined in the home ranks by the likes of Brett Sturgess, Elvis Taione, Dave Lewis, Fetu’u Vainikolo and skipper Sweeney.

Bath, meanwhile, took the opportunity to give more game time in their back-row to the much-talked about Burgess, who was joined in the ranks by first team regulars such as Peter Stringer, Semesa Rokodoguni and Devoto.

And it was fly-half Devoto who broke the deadlock inside two minutes as he slotted a straight-forward penalty after the Braves were penalised for not rolling away at the tackle midway inside their own half.

Moments later and Johnson was given a brutal reminder of the rigours of modern-day rugby when his first charge of the night was thwarted by a double hit that no doubt he will be feeling the effects of tomorrow morning.

Playing with tempo, Bath continued to control the early exchanges and they thought they had claimed the game’s opening try on 10 minutes, but prop Beno Obano was adjudged to have been held up by some last-gasp Braves defending.

Having survived the threat, the Braves - buoyed by a terrific crowd of over 3,000 people - began to find their rhythm in attack and with it came their opening score when a blockbusting run through the middle from Tongan international Vainikolo saw his leave a trail of defenders in his wake before he shipped the ball to the onrushing Simmonds, who applied the finish for Sweeney to then convert.

Exeter looked to build on their slender advantage, but it took until the half-hour mark before they made further inroads into the scoreline.

The wait, it has to be said, was well worth it as full-back McGuigan fielded a Bath box kick just inside the visiting half, before setting off on a dazzling run to the line. The Namibian-born back had plenty to do as he collected the hanging kick, but the fancy footwork - more akin to Strictly Come Dancing, rather than Sandy Park - saw him glide over by the posts for a second converted score.

Bath needed a response of sorts and it came just before the break when home prop Brett Sturgess was banished to the sin-bin for a professional foul. From the resultant penalty, Devoto slotted his second successful kick of the night to reduce the arrears to eight at the break

HALF TIME EXETER BRAVES 14 BATH UNITED 6

On the resumption, it was Bath who were quickest out of the traps as they hit the Braves with a try-double in virtually as many minutes.

With the Braves on the offensive, Bath cleverly countered with an instinctive attack that went through a heap of different hands, the last of which belonged to Atkins who was able to ease over from close range for their opening try, which Devoto duly converted.

It was the perfect pick-me-up for the visitors, who two minutes later claimed a second score when England international Rokoduguni exposed some soft home defending to ease his way over in the right-hand corner to restore Bath’s lead.

From the restart, though, Exeter countered immediately as Sweeney landed a successful penalty from 30 metres, before a sustained home attack saw them come within a whisker of scoring.

Bath - to their credit - did well to repel the threat, centre Olly Woodburn delivering a telling hit on opposite number Max Bodilly as the Braves looked to pounce.

With little to choose between either side, the Braves were handed a boost midway through the second period when Rokoduguni became the third player to see yellow, the imposing winger sent to the cooler for a late hit on McGuigan as he looked to collect a hanging clearance.

Despite the numerical advantage, the home side huffed and puffed, but could find no way through the stubborn Bath defensive line.

Sweeney had a testing penalty chance wide on the left go close to the mark - and in a frantic conclusion had another shot at the target with the last kick of the game. Sadly, the No.10's effort drifted wide of the mark and it was Bath who were left to celebrate yet again.

Braves: B McGuigan; F Vainikolo, M Bodilly, A Hughes, J Arnott (K Davies 41-47); C Sweeney (capt), D Lewis; B Sturgess, E Taione (G Bateman 47), A Brown; J Sexton,, E Holmes; T Johnson, S Simmonds (J Conlon 67), S Skinner. Replacements (not used): J Stanley, S Naqelevuki, S Townsend, L May, T Hendrickson.

Tries - Arnott, McGuigan; Conversions - Sweeney (2); Penalty - Sweeney

Yellow Card: Sturgess

United: R Lane; S Rokoduguni, O Woodburn, R Jennings, D Atkins (J-P Orlandi 24-34); O Devoto, P Stringer (W Homer h/t); B Obano (J-P Orlandi 68), T Dunn (T Wolstencroft 72), K Palma-Newport (M Shields 51, Palma-Newport 68); T Ellis (C Davey 79), C Ewells (capt); S Burgess, G Mercer, D Sisi. Replacements (not used): M Northcote-Green, M Clark, E Coulson.

Tries - Atkins, Rokoduguni; Conversion - Devoto; Penalties - Devoto (2)

Yellow Cards: Obano, Rokoduguni

Referee: D Parrott

Attendance: 3,351