Edinburgh Triumphs over Gloucester; Bath Defeats Castres to Near Pool Two Victory

In a thrilling encounter, Edinburgh secured a dramatic 26-24 victory over Gloucester in the Champions Cup. This match marked Gloucester’s fifth consecutive loss, intensifying their struggles this season.

First Half Highlights

Edinburgh quickly fell behind when Josh Hathaway scored an opening try just three minutes into the game. Gloucester extended their lead to eight points with George Barton’s penalty in the 13th minute.

• Edinburgh’s response came in the 17th minute with a spectacular solo try from Ben Vellacott.
• Despite this, Gloucester continued to press, with Barton adding a second penalty shortly afterwards.
• Gloucester capped a strong first half with a try from Charlie Atkinson, who cleverly touched down after chasing a kick.

Edinburgh managed to get back within reach thanks to a try from Ewan Ashman. However, Barton’s third penalty increased the Gloucester lead to nine points.

Second Half Comeback

The second half saw a resurgent Edinburgh. Liam McConnell was instrumental in bringing the score to within two points following a crucial try under the posts. A penalty try gave Edinburgh the lead for the first time, while Atkinson received a yellow card for Gloucester.

Though Barton managed to convert a fourth penalty, it was not enough to prevent Gloucester’s defeat.

Bath Dominates Castres

In another Champions Cup match, Bath maintained their top position in Pool Two with an impressive 43-20 victory over Castres.

Match Overview

Bath displayed a strong performance, scoring three tries in each half. Castres initially struck first with a try from Teddy Durand after a penalty allowed them to capitalize on a driving maul.

• Cameron Redpath equalized for Bath with a well-executed try shortly thereafter.
• Although Bath was temporarily reduced to 14 men following Beno Obano’s yellow card, Castres could not exploit the situation effectively.
• Wilfried Hulleu scored another try for Castres, but Bath responded quickly with a try from Ted Hill.

Decisive Moments

Bath gained the upper hand with a try from Tom Dunn and maintained momentum as Castres’ Durand was sent to the sin bin. After half-time, Bath’s Obano scored, followed by a penalty from Finn Russell, extending their lead to nine points.

Bath finished strong, scoring two more tries from Will Muir and another from Tom Carr-Smith, sealing a comprehensive victory.

This week’s Champions Cup matches showcased Edinburgh’s resilience and Bath’s dominant form, promising exciting competition as the tournament progresses.