Santi Carreras’ 75-yard score propels Bath to bonus-point win at the Stoop

Bath defeated Harlequins at the Stoop in the opening round of the season on 25 September 2026, helped by a long-range try from Argentinian full-back Santi Carreras that shifted momentum in the visitors’ favour.

Last season’s top two began the campaign against last season’s bottom two, and Bath delivered the expected result to open their account. Harlequins were missing Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt and George Furbank from their line-up. Bath’s backline included Santi Carreras and Finn Russell; Carreras has been, to quote his coach, "the best player in the world" during stretches in training.

Dan du Preez opened the scoring on his Bath debut and Joe Cokanasiga added a second for the visitors with a strong line. Harlequins responded with quickfire scores from Will Porter and Chandler Cunningham-South — the latter finishing after Oscar Beard’s contribution — leaving the teams level with two tries apiece around the half-hour mark.

The match turned when Tyrone Green’s pass found Carreras as the last defender with Oscar Beard outside him; Carreras volleyed the ball with his foot, scooped it near the touchline and raced some 75 yards to the try line, putting Bath 21-10 ahead. That counter-try proved a decisive shift in the first half.

Bath then capitalised on forward dominance, forcing a penalty at a breakdown and kicking to the corner, from which Dan Frost finished at the back of an advancing maul. Bath had secured a bonus point by half-time.

Harlequins produced periods of fluid attack after the restart, Cadan Murley’s left-sided run creating space for Pedro Delgado to finish, but their momentum was undermined when Sam Riley was shown a yellow card for an illegal tackle on Beno Obano.

In the final 10 minutes Bath put the result beyond doubt by scoring from a driven lineout for the third time in the match: Finn Russell sent a penalty to the corner and Ewan Richards finished the move. Harlequins pressed late for a losing bonus point but could not convert their efforts into points.

The victory gave Bath a bonus-point opening to their season and, alongside Northampton, left them with maximum returns from the first round.