Bath secure a spot in the final as they look to go all the way

Second-half tries from Ted Hill, Joe Cokanasiga, Will Muir, and Max Ojomoh after Bath trailed at the break turned the match on its head amid jubilant scenes in front of a sold-out Rec.

The result means the Blue, Black and White advance to Allianz Stadium next Saturday where they will play the winners of tomorrow’s second play-off between Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.

The game started at a ferocious pace with both sides trading big hits as they each probed their opponent's defence.

It took until the 12th minute for the first points to be registered through an AJ MacGinty penalty.

Bristol extended their lead on 18 minutes when James Dun crossed under the posts, converted by MacGinty.

Bears were reduced to 14 in the 22nd minute when Kalaveti Ravouvou was sent to the bin for preventing Bath from getting quick ball and Finn Russell landed the resulting penalty.

With both sides showing plenty of attacking intent without managing to breakthrough, the next score was through Russell's boot with his second penalty of the game in the 38th minute.

It was Bristol though who had the final word of a relentless first 40 minutes through a MacGinty penalty to make the half-time score, 6-13.

Bath flew out of the traps and within two minutes of the restart had their first try of the game courtesy of Ted Hill from close in. Russell's conversion levelled up the scores.

The home side took the lead in the 48th minute when a brilliant kick through from Tom de Glanville bounced perfectly for Joe Cokanasiga who dotted the ball down on the line.

Russell's conversion was good to put Bath 20-13 up.

Bath added a third try when after kicking a penalty to the corner, the ball was spun through the hands of the backs to Will Muir who crossed in 'Horse Corner'. Russell's conversion from out wide was superb and extended Bath's lead to 27-13.

With Kieran Marmion getting a 58th minute yellow card for Bears, Max Ojomoh capitalised on the space to score Bath's fourth try, converted by Russell.

On 73 minutes, Benhard Janse van Rensburg pulled a score back for Bristol, converted by MacGinty to make the score 34-20.

With the closing stages of the game as pulsating as the rest, Bath closed it out to reach their second consecutive Premiership final.

SCORES

BATH RUGBY

Tries: Ted Hill (42), Joe Cokanasiga (48), Will Muir (54), Max Ojomoh (59)

Conversions: Finn Russell (42, 49, 54, 59)

Penalties: Finn Russell (22, 38)

Drop goals: N/A

BRISTOL BEARS

Tries: James Dun (18), Benhard Janse van Rensburg (73)

Conversions: AJ MacGinty (18, 73)

Penalties: AJ MacGinty (12, 40)

Drop goals: N/A

TEAMS

Bath Rugby Starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer ©, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Cameron Redpath, 13 Max Ojomoh, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Josh Bayliss

Bristol Bears Starting XV: 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 George Kloska, 4 James Dun, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Viliame Mata, 9 Harry Randall, 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 12 James Williams, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 15 Noah Heward

Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Pedro Rubiolo, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Jack Bates