Bath Rugby were pushed all the way by a very impressive Bedford Blues side on Sunday but the Premiership side were able to maintain their 100 percent record in the Premiership Rugby Cup with a 43-26 victory at the Recreation Ground.

Bath wrapped up the bonus point after just 28 minutes, scoring five tries in the first 40 and showing much more strength in depth over Bedford. Two tries from Will Butt, along with scores from Jasper Spandler, Ciaran Donoghue and Tom Cowan meant the Blue, Black and White took a 31-12 lead into dressing rooms, with fly-half Orlando Bailey slotting three of the five conversions. However, it was not the commanding performance that the scoreboard may have shown, with the Blues scoring two fine tries through Matt Worley, who was yellow-carded after 16 minutes for a deliberate knock-on, and Joey Conway, with their offloads and ball-in-hand play very impressive and catching the Bath defence cold. Fly-half Will Maisey knocked over one of his two first-half conversions.

However, in the second half, when Bath thought they would potentially coast to victory, it was anything but. Bedford came out in the second half much the better side, with brilliant attacking play causing many problems and bringing the away side back into the game, just five points behind at one stage. Bath fluffed their lines in attack and left three or four tries out there in the second 40, but tries from Ruaridh McConnochie and Neil le Roux meant Bath battled through and took a 43-26 victory, with Bailey knocking over one of the two second-half conversions. Bedford can be extremely happy with their performance, with a second Matt Worley try and a Joe Howard score lighting up the Rec and causing the Premiership leaders a lot of problems. Maisey was perfect off the tee in the second 40, knocking over two of his two conversions.

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Rugby writer Olly D'Arcy takes a closer look at the individual performances of the Bath players...

15 Ciaran Donoghue - 8

A real bright spark at the full-back position, Donoghue had three or four fine linebreaks in the first half to cause the Bedford defence all sorts of issues, gaining multiple metres extremely impressively. He benefited from some special play from Carr-Smith and Bailey, with some good support play meaning he was able to race through for Bath's third try. Unfortunately, he did drop a walk-in try just two minutes into the second half which would have all but sealed the game for the Blue, Black and White. However, after navigating a sticky patch of play, Donoghue found another gap that he exploited superbly, setting McConnochie free to race over and score a vital try after 71 minutes. He had another couple of impressive moments before the final whistle went, and he was rightly given the Player of the Match award at the end of the game. It was a stunning performance from a player that will grace the Rec many more times in the future.

14 Sam Harris - 6

The speedster was back from injury which was great to see, He was released down the right-hand wing with some good defence-to-attack transition from the Blue, Black and White, but his kick-through was covered well by the away side. A couple of lovely looping moves just missed the mark due to a couple of drops from Harris to start the game, but he grew into the game with some nice carries and breaks down the wing. However, just three minutes into the second half, he went down onto the turf with injury without any contact, with an apparent ligament injury the major worry. He needed two members of staff to help him off the pitch, and it was a hugely disappointing end to his afternoon.

13 Louie Hennessey - 6

The centre was back playing on the Rec after a short-term loan at Cardiff Blues, and he was a welcome addition for Andy Robinson. He was always a threat carrying the ball in hand, making metres freely, also sending Butt free for his first try on the left-hand wing. However, in the second 40, there was nit a lot on offer for him in attack, with some of his defensive work a bit poor as well. A lot more to come, however, as shown by some of his earlier performances this season.

12 Will Butt - 8

It's been a fine 24/25 season for the inside centre. He has been a brilliant revelation with the injuries that Cameron Redpath and Max Ojomoh have had during the season. He was used as the first receiver off the set pieces, and he was able to crash past the gain line on multiple occasions. He then benefited from Bath having the man advantage, waiting out on the left-hand wing to canter in unopposed for the Blue, Black and White's third try. Bedford answered back with back-to-back tries, but Butt's second try on 37 minutes put a huge dent in their momentum, picking up the loose ball and powered over after the Blues inexplicably tried to play out of their 22 with just three minutes left of the first 40. He held firm when needed in defence for the Blue, Black and White, as well as taking the game by the scruff on the neck in attack when the home side were on the back foot. A vital player and a vital performance in today's situation.

11 Ruaridh McConnochie - 7

It was nice to see the winger get back on the scoresheet after his double try-scoring performance against Sale last week in the Galagher Premiership. However, it was a very quiet 40 minutes for the former England international. In the second half, he did get over the line, but substitute winger Austin Emens was adjudged to have got in the way of the Bedford defenders, meaning his score was chalked off. Some disappointing defensive plays from the winger unfortunately, with a very tame attempt at the tackle as the last man to allow the Championship side to cut through and get their bonus point try. However, he was there to make the most from another Donoghue break, clinically finishing in the left-hand corner to seal the Bath victory after 71 minutes.

10 Orlando Bailey - 7

A great opportunity for the fly-half to show what he is about with this start today, and it was a superb performance from the 23-year-old. There was superb control in attack, with a couple of looping moves that he conducted setting the Bath backs through if the ball stayed in their hands. He was vital in the second score with a superb tip-pass that set Donogue free, a bit of class under pressure. He then had another stunning bit of play, with a lovely delayed pass setting Hennessey away, who then found the unmarked Butt to easily score. There was a loss of control in the second half as Bedford caught the Blue, Black and White off guard with some super rugby, and Bailey was guilty of a couple of loose kicks to needlessly turn the ball over. However, when it was needed, he controlled the Bath attack to get them over the line and keep them at the top of their group in the cup.

9 Tom Carr-Smith - 8

Benefited from some quick thinking from himself and Finn Russell last week to get himself a vital try against Sale last weekend, and to start today's cup game, he showed his very smart and quick-thinking rugby brain with some clever bit of opening play from the bottom of the ruck to control and conduct Bath's attack. He then had a moment of magic for Bath's second try, pumping the ball a couple of times and hesitating brilliantly to catch the Bedford defence in no man's land, looping a superb ball over to Bailey, who then tipped it superbly to the supporting Donoghue to score the second try for Bath. He then showed yet another aspect to his game with a fantastically weighted cross-field kick that Cowan fielded in all sorts of space on the left-hand wing, securing the bonus point after just 28 minutes. His day was done after just 52 minutes, with not a lot of action in the second half, but it was a brilliant performance to give Johann van Graan some thought about the 21 shirt.

1 Arthur Cordwell - 6

The 25-year-old was a part of the scrum that was absolutely dominant over their Championship counterparts in the first 40, winning multiple scrum penalties to give perfect attacking platforms for the Blue, Black and White. However, he did allow his opposite number to canter through the Bath defence with relative ease to score a fine try. Not a lot of action for the loosehead prob in the second half, with Bedford regaining a bit of parity in the scrum in the second 40 before Cordwell came off.

2 Jasper Spandler - 6

Great start for the 21-year-old, benefiting from the dominant rolling maul from five metres out, crashing over after just ten minutes to give Bath their opening score of the game. The lineout was operating very handly while also causing the away side some problems in the set piece. However, in the second half, he made life too easy for the Bedford attack, slipping off a tackle too easily to allow the Blues to score and make the game far more competitive than it should have been.

3 Kieran Verden - 6

There was a thumping hit from the tighthead prop in defence after just four minutes to show the intent the Blue, Black and White defence wanted to have on the Blues this afternoon. He was a part of the scrum that dominated in the first 40, but he was also a bit slack in some of the defensive work done, allowing Bedford to find gaps in the midfield that should not have been there and bring them right back into the game.

4 Harvey Cuckson - 6

Brilliant bit of play by the lock to steal a Bedford five-metre lineout when the away side were in a dangerous position, dominating the set piece and causing Bedford a lot of issues. The work in the engine room was very effective for 30 minutes, but Bedford were allowed to grow into the game, and come the second half, they were the more dominant side, with the Bath defence struggling to combat a free-flowing and expansive Bedford attack. However, when it mattered the most Cuckson and Bath got some vital stops before the lock came off. Some very positive points for this talented player.

5 Ewan Richards - 7

The captain has been a real shining light in this competition this season. He showed his class at the breakdown, combining well with Staddon to poach the ball brilliantly with Bedorrd looking dangerous in attack. He would have liked his defensive work to have been a little bit sharper as the Championship side found their groove as the first half continued on, but a couple of vital stops means the Blue, Black and White were able to take a 31-12 lead after the first 40. He would have liked a lot more poise and control from himself and his team in the second half, with Bedford far more composed, bringing them to within five points of the home side. However, some great leadership abilities were shown as he steered his side to a victory that some may not have seen coming in the second half, such was Bedford's momentum and dominance. A key win in Richards' journey, one that could mould him into a sublime p;ayer in the next few years.

6 Ethan Staddon - 6

Strong carry with the ball in hand from the flanker to start, showing another facet to his game that is growing with every single appearance. His brilliant jackeling ability was then on show, pinching the ball superbly from the Bedford ruck to stop a flowing attack. However, after 53 minutes, he was shown a yellow card for cynically going off his feet to slow the ball down after Bedford went from their own 22 to Bath's five-metre line.

7 Tom Cowan - 8

A great couple of carries from the flanker to wear down the Blues defence. He then profited off of the brilliant play from Carr-Smith while out on the left-hand wing, collecting the ball after the first bounce and racing over the line to score the bonus point try after just 28 minutes. His game was done after 52 minutes, but it was a very promising showing from the flanker, showing there is yet more talent in a huge pool of back-rowers.

8 Arthur Green - 6

A vital interception from the number eight while tracking back to stop a nicely constructed attack by the Blues, which he was then able to do right at the start of the second half again to turn defence into attack. However, he was nullified very well in the second half, with Bedford substitute Fred Tuilagi coming on to really break the game up and cause Green and Bath some issues before the number eight came off.

Replacements

16 John Stewart - 7

17 Scott Kirk - 6

18 Archie Stanley - 6

19 Jack Bennett - 6

20 Mackenzie Graham - 7

21 Neil le Roux - 7

22 Austin Emens - 5

23 Will Parry - 7