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Virtually all aspects are running smoothly for Bath at this stage. After much anticipation, their eagerly awaited stadium redevelopment appears on the verge of starting, and on the field, the champions have secured two victories in two matches after the initial two rounds. With Finn Russell set to reappear in action next week to reclaim the playmaking duties, it is will require a seriously good side to take their title.

On a damp and gusty night in Somerset, even so, they were pushed to their limits by a stubborn Sale team who refused to yield and would not surrender. It was only with the final three minutes that the Bath center crossed the line to score his side’s bonus point try to maintain his squad’s perfect start to the campaign.

This was the Sharks’ fourth consecutive setback on their opponents’ ground and the way it unfolded was largely familiar to previous performances. Bath excel in wearing down opponents in the final quarter of games, and here was a further illustration of it. The Bath side might have simplified matters for themselves had they opted to kick an earlier penalty to widen the gap to eight points, but ultimately, Ojomoh had the decisive moment.

The attending England head coach Steve Borthwick had plenty of other players to evaluate, with the powerful center and Henry Arundell also looking eager to stand out. the Sharks’ hooker scored a second-half try and is evidently a young player on the rise, while the game management and kicking accuracy of the composed George Ford shone in challenging elements.

The fly-half was a standout for the visitors despite the loss.

It was yet another rain-soaked evening when a cover on the open interim structure would have spared its soaking inhabitants. Their admission can still be priced at a hundred pounds, but a solution is close at hand. After years of disputes, the green light has been granted for an 18,000-capacity stadium, with international authorities and the secretary of state having approved the plan.

That only requires Bath waiting for official documentation, which the club hope will materialise within a short period. And when Bath do eventually possess their own riverside palace to match their exceptionally squad depth, life is going to become even tougher for opposing teams.

It’s not as if Sale were in any mood to be intimidated in a combative if a bit stop-start first half. Bath were regrettable to lose their England lock Charlie Ewels to a leg problem inside the first ten minutes, and the Sharks’ scrum also made some initial progress. It was Bath, though, who showed resilience and registered the game’s first try, just when Sale were applying pressure they were breached down the left side by Lawrence before the speedy the winger darted past the defender to score his first home Prem try for his long-supported side.

It was to be the theme of the half: promising moments from Sale only for Bath to respond with lethal precision. The game was still less than 30 minutes old when they added another try, Miles Reid slicing clear off the back of a Bath throw and feeding Cameron Redpath on his inside to cross with flair.

Fortunately Sale still had the exceptional Ford to remain competitive. The national number 10 had already landed a well-executed penalty and a smart drop kick when a Bath clearance bounced straight to him on the midfield. Having taken a moment to set himself, the No 10 nailed another precise drop-goal to close the deficit before the prop forward, from near the line, secured Bath’s third try with Sale’s captain Ernst Van Rhyn temporarily suspended.

Fighting back from a substantial margin as visitors would be a tough assignment under any circumstances, let alone against a Bath team with a extra player and a deep reserves. It was a testament to Sale’s determination, then, when they worked Jibulu over from near the line just a short time after the restart to dispel any hosts’ assurance.

Typically that is the cue for Bath to raise their level, but this time the Sale side were forewarned. They made their own raft of changes and, at a narrow margin, it needed a stunning tackle from Sam Underhill 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 scoreboard, Bath always find a way these days.