Ben Spencer and Finn Russell proved their mettle once again as Bath reached the Premiership final with a 31-23 win over Sale Sharks.
The West Countrymen were by far the better team through the first 25 minutes, leading 18-5 with tries from Ted Hill and Beno Obano, with Russell also adding eight points off the tee.
Sale struggled in the first quarter, with Ben Currie providing the only real fightback, but they gradually drew back into the game and were just three points behind at half-time.
Tommy Taylor touched down and George Ford gave his team hope with a penalty kick before the fly-half equalised early in the second period.
Russell restored Bath’s advantage but Tom O’Flaherty scored over the whitewash to put the Sharks ahead for the first time in the match.
But the home side kept their cool and their half-backs took control of the game before Russell restored the lead with a penalty before a Neil Annett try put them on their way to the Premiership final.
Johan van Graan’s side will take on Northampton Saints in the headline match after Phil Dawson’s side beat Saracens on Friday.
Scorers click here
It was not a fairytale return for Sale and England flanker Tom Curry, who played 33 minutes off the bench in his first appearance since the World Cup after undergoing major hip surgery.
Bath took the lead in the fourth minute when winger Joe Cocanasiga was impeded while chasing Spencer’s kick and Russell made no mistake with a shot from 25 metres out.
The home side started confidently and extended their lead after just eight minutes with a move started and finished by former Worcester forward Hill.
His first charge into the Sale half did enough damage to give Russell a half-break before Spencer’s chipped pass into space was latched onto by Hill for a magnificent try.
Sale needed something from the opening quarter and they got it with a Ben Currie touchdown after a strong lineout drive and their first meaningful visit to the Bath 22-yard line.
Bath had been dominant up to that point but were soon back on top after a long touch-finder from winger Will Muir gave them the platform for an impressive attack and they were soon back on top.
And Bath’s forwards did not disappoint, with some patient phasing play leading to Obano scoring a try and Russell converting to make it 15-6.
Russell continued to unleash his favourite repertoire, taking a penalty from the halfway line, but Sale scored again from a close-range lineout, with Taylor reaping the rewards.
Ford scored from the touchline and then converted a penalty shortly after to put Sale just three points behind at half-time and back in the running for the title.
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A 40-metre penalty from Ford tied the score early in the second period, with Tom Curry joining the brawl shortly after.
A successful Russell third penalty put Bath back in the lead but Sale hit back moments later when winger Tom Roebuck intercepted Joe Carpenter’s kick for O’Flaherty to cross wide of goal.
Sale took the lead for the first time but tensions began to build when Russell put Bath ahead by a pint after beating another man 14 minutes from time.
Russell narrowly missed a penalty chance eight minutes from time but Bath dominated territory looking for another goal to put the game away.
Then a driving lineout overpowered the Sale defence, Annett touched down and Russell converted to set up a Twickenham showdown with the Saints.
team
bus: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cocanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 8 Alfie Barberie, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
replacement: 16 Neil Annett, 17 Juan Schaumann, 18 Will Stewart, 19 Elliot Stoke, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Lewis Schroder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Miles Reid
Sale Shark: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Rob du Preez, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Waugh, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Sam Dugdale, 6 Ben Currie (c), 5 Ernst van Rijn, 4 Kobus Wiese, 3 James Harper, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Bevan Rodd
replacement: 16 Agustin Creevey, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Will Griff-John, 19 Ben Bamber, 20 Tom Ellis, 21 Rafi Quirke, 22 Luke James, 23 Tom Curry
Judge: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referee: Tom Foley, Sara Cox
TMO: Stuart Terhige
read more: Finn Smith scores 17 points as Northampton Saints beat Saracens in Premiership semi-final
