The Premiership semi-finals delivered rugby drama at its finest, with Bath and Leicester emerging victorious through contrasting but equally compelling performances.

Bristol Bears produced near-perfect first-half rugby at The Rec, with Ellis Genge setting the emotional tone and James Dunn delivering a standout performance in the engine room. Their dominance was embodied by Calaveti Ravouvou, whose electric running constantly threatened to tear Bath apart. Yet Guy Pepper's heroic breakdown work kept Bath within striking distance at 13-6 down.

What followed was a Bath renaissance straight from the All Blacks playbook - twenty minutes of unstoppable rugby that saw Hill, Thoukakota, Muir and Obano cross the whitewash. The introduction of Miles Reid proved transformative, with the underrated flanker making over twenty tackles in the second half alone. Bristol's valiant effort ultimately succumbed to Bath's superior firepower in a 34-20 defeat.

Leicester's triumph over Sale showcased rugby of an entirely different flavour. The Tigers shocked everyone by out-muscling Sale at the scrum, dominating the aerial battle, and neutralising George Ford through relentless pressure. Adam Radwan's exceptional finishing ability provided the attacking edge, including a spectacular diving score that demonstrated why Leicester will be dangerous opponents for Bath in the final.

We conclude with our annual awards, crowning our team of the season with unanimous selections like Thomas du Toit at tighthead, while debating positions where competition has been fierce. Murray McCallum claims our Outstanding Prop award for his sensational sidesteps against Saints, while Henry Pollock receives Character of the Year for bringing personality and changing perceptions of what rugby players can be.

This season has transformed the Premiership's trajectory, with young talent emerging, attacking rugby flourishing, and genuine competitiveness throughout. As we look toward the final, we're already excited about what's to come next season - but first, there's the small matter of Bath versus Leicester at Twickenham.

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