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Virtually all aspects are running smoothly for the Bath team at this moment. Finally, their much-anticipated stadium renovation appears ready to happen, and on the playing surface, the champions have secured two victories in two matches after the initial two rounds. With the star fly-half scheduled to return in action next week to take back the playmaking duties, it is will require a seriously good side to steal their crown.

On a wet and windy night in Somerset, nonetheless, they were pushed to their limits by a stubborn Sale team who refused to yield and would not surrender. It was only with three minutes left that the Bath center slid in to score his side’s bonus point try to uphold his squad’s perfect start to the campaign.

This was Sale’s fourth successive loss on their opponents’ ground and the way it unfolded was mostly typical to previous outings. The home side specializes in wearing down opponents in the closing stages of games, and here was a further illustration of it. The Bath side might have made life easier for themselves had they decided to go for an earlier penalty to increase their advantage to eight points, but finally, Ojomoh had the final word.

The attending England head coach the national team boss had plenty of other players to check out, with the powerful center and Henry Arundell also looking keen to impress him. Sale’s Nathan Jibulu notched a second-half try and is clearly a young player on the rise, while the game management and kicking accuracy of the calm George Ford were notable in difficult weather.

Ford’s performance was exceptional for the Sharks despite the loss.

It was another of those sodden nights when a shelter on the open temporary stand would have spared its soaking inhabitants. Their entry passes can still command a premium fee, but a relief is close at hand. After lengthy debates, official approval has been awarded for an 18,000-seat stadium, with the heritage body and the relevant official having approved the plan.

That now depends on Bath awaiting final authorization, which the club are confident will materialise within a few months. And when Bath do at last own their own stadium by the river to match their extraordinarily player resources, life is going to become more challenging for away sides.

Not to suggest Sale were in any frame of mind to be intimidated in a physical if somewhat disjointed first half. Bath were unlucky to lose their national team second-row the experienced player to a knee injury inside the opening stages, and the Sale’s pack also made some early headway. It was Bath, though, who dug in and registered the game’s opening touchdown, just when Sale were applying pressure they were breached down the left side by Lawrence before the speedy the winger evaded Tom O’Flaherty to score his first home Prem try for his long-supported side.

It was to be the narrative of the half: encouraging visiting flashes only for Bath to hit back with clinical execution. The game was still under half an hour in when they found the line once more, the flanker bursting away off the back of a set piece and setting up the inside center on his inside to score emphatically.

Thankfully Sale still had the exceptional George Ford to stay within reach. The national number 10 had already landed a expertly taken penalty and a clever drop-goal when a Bath restart rolled right to him on the halfway line. Having taken a moment to compose himself, the fly-half nailed another accurate kick to narrow the gap before Beno Obano, from short distance, claimed Bath’s third try with Sale’s captain Ernst Van Rhyn serving a yellow card.

Mounting a comeback from 21-9 on the road would be a challenging endeavor in any venue, let alone against a Bath team with a extra player and a strong substitutes. It was a testament to Sale’s grit, then, when they created the try from near the line just a few moments after the resumption to puncture any hosts’ assurance.

Ordinarily that is the indication for Bath to increase the tempo, but this time the Sale side were forewarned. They made their own multiple replacements and, at a five-point game, it required a brilliant tackle from the flanker to stop the powerful carries of the center. A massive hit by the defender also caused Ted Hill to exit early, but where it was decisive, up on the result, Bath repeatedly succeed these days.