Bath rose to the occasion with a six-try 43-12 win over leaders Northampton that confirmed their place in the Premier League play-offs.
But the players had to wait several agonizing minutes to learn that they were also rewarded with a draw at home to Sale, shock winners over Saracens.
The match will be played on Saturday 1 June, marking a marked turnaround from the dark days of two years ago when Bath finished bottom of the table.
Man of the Match Josh Bayliss wasted no time in justifying his selection at number eight ahead of Alfie Barbieri, as Bath pushed the Saints over the line after just seven minutes, with Finn Russell adding the conversion.
With further changes to their line-up, the Premier League leaders were unsettled by Bath's aggressive defense and left winger Will Muir forced Ollie Slitholme into a quick clearance for a touch from outside his own 22.
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Of the line, the home side is used Cameron Redpath acted as a decoy and Russell delayed his pass with perfect timing to get Muir off his wing to run without touching the try line. Russell's conversion gave Bath a 14-0 lead on the quarter hour.
Center Tom Litchfield hit under the Bath posts soon after but Saints were awarded a penalty in the ceremony. They were not interested in kicking points, thinking, and repeatedly opted for a corner kick as Bath continued to infringe, especially at the breakdown.
Russell, happy to play a practical game when necessary, scored a penalty after 25 minutes to extend the lead to 17-0.
However, with Bath conceding too many penalties and Matt Gallagher in the sin basket for an intentional hit, the Saints found space to engineer an unconverted try to full-back James Rahm on the stroke of half-time.
The hosts regained their composure after the break, looking to their strikers to regain control, and Tom Dunne duly scored from the line, with Russell converting.
The Saints were then cleared out of their pack but Joe Cokanasiga sent a pass over the Northampton line.
The extra try point came after 53 minutes when skipper Ben Spencer intercepted in his own half and raced 60 meters to the line and Russell converted.
No sooner had Barbieri come off the bench than he added a fifth try which Spencer converted to extend Bath's lead to 38-5 and it became a rout when Muir finished off a sweeping move for his second try.
Northampton had the final say when Tom Seabrook sneaked in a 78th-minute corner kick for Saints' second try, which Charlie Savala converted, but it was Bath who were celebrating.
Horse in open space?
Muir will go as @BathRugby Race to leadership leadership?
Watch live @rugbyontnt And PRTV?#GallagherBrim | #batfnor pic.twitter.com/g6JAawEgpL
– Premier Rugby (@premrugby) May 18, 2024
