Battling Bath youngsters bag bonus point off experienced Sharks

Bath Rugby made a battling display against the big names of Sale Sharks but suffered the expected defeat in their PREM Rugby Cup Round 1 clash at the CorpAcq Stadium on Sunday 6th September.

Bath Rugby returned to the city with a well-earned bonus point from their PREM Rugby Cup tie away to a powerful Sale Sharks side bristling with experience and new signings | Photo © Richard Briggs

Despite the Sharks naming, a week before the game, what was effectively a first-choice side for the Pool A encounter, the Blue, Black & White stuck to their guns and selected a matchday 23 that was very much a development squad.

On paper at least, Sale were set for a very convincing win. But Bath had other ideas.

Although the visitors conceded an early try, they responded with two touchdowns to find themselves 14-5 up a quarter of the way through.

However, the Greater Manchester-based Sharks went over for two tries – one converted – for a 17-14 advantage at the turnaround.

Sale’s experience told in the second period and they surged 50-14 in front.

But two Bath tries in the final few minutes – the second of those scores coming at the death – ensured the Somerset outfit took a bonus point from a 50-28 reverse.

Although the Sharks won the game by eight tries and five conversions to four converted tries and had 55% of the possession, Bath enjoyed 53% of the territory.

And the visitors entered the Sale 22 on 14 occasions, the hosts managing 10 incursions. However, Alex Sanderson’s men gained 674 metres in attack – Bath gained 256 metres.

Sale opened the scoring in the third minute, Tom Roebuck touching down in the right corner after a kick through by Joe Carpenter. Alex Lozowski’s conversion attempt was off target.

But the Blue, Black & White hit back in the 12th minute, Kepueli Tuipulotu scoring from a line-out drive on the right. Ciaran Donoghue added the extras to send Bath 7-5 ahead.

And Mark Lilley’s charges stunned Sale and their fans by scoring again in the 23rd minute. After good work by Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi and Jack Bennett, Charlie Griffin rolled over the line just to the right of the posts, Donoghue majoring.

The Sharks reduced the arrears in the 27th minute, Roebuck offloading for Carpenter to run in from six metres for a try in the left corner. Again Lozowski failed from the tee.

Bath suffered a big blow when Opoku-Gyamfi went off injured in the 32nd minute.

But they were poised to score another try five minutes later. Scott Kirk intercepted 30 metres from the Blue, Black & White’s goal-line and charged upfield. He offloaded to Ewan Richards 22 metres out, but the captain was dragged down seven metres short and possession was lost.

Sale responded with a try almost immediately. A quick tap penalty led to Arron Reed feeding Carpenter 39 metres out – and the England full-back evaded Jack Woods to go over just to the right of the posts. Lozowski kicked the two points.

The Sharks grabbed five tries after the break.

In the 43rd minute, Xavier Roe released Carpenter to hare in from 22 metres for his hat-trick score under the posts, Lozowski converting.

And Tye Raymont went over beneath the sticks from short range in the 50th minute, Lozowski successful from the tee to extend Sale’s buffer to 31-14.

The scoreboard soon read 38-14. Carpenter made a superb run on the right in the 54th minute and passed to Roe 10 metres out, the New Zealander touching down to the right of the posts. Lozowski converted.

Another Sale try arrived in the 57th minute, hooker Nathan Jibulu grounding the ball in the right corner following a pass from Sam Dugdale 10 metres out. Lozowski booted the extra points.

And the Sharks reached their half-century in the 66th minute, replacement hooker Alfie Longstaff touching down from a rolling maul on the left. Ollie Davies was unable to land the conversion.

However, Bath responded brilliantly.

In the 70th minute, Jasper Spandler scored from a rolling maul on the left. Donoghue nailed the conversion.

Longstaff was yellow-carded in the 79th minute for bringing down a maul.

And right at the end, the guests ensured they took something from the game as Tom Carr-Smith crossed under the posts from close range, Donoghue adding the extras with the final act of the match.

The Blue, Black & White sit in fourth place in Pool A, with Exeter Chiefs – who have yet to play in the competition – below them.

Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Jack Bennett, 7 George Timmins, 8 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 9 Ieuan Davies, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Sam Winters, 12 Declan Treacey, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Jack Woods.

Bath replacements: 16 Jasper Spandler, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 James Maloney, 20 Alex Ridgway, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 James Linegar, 23 Jack Harrison.

Sale starting XV: 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 3 Tye Raymont, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Ben Bamber, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Sam Dugdale, 8 Jacques Vermeulen, 9 Gus Warr, 10 Alex Lozowski, 11 Arron Reed, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 13 Joe Marchant, 14 Tom Roebuck, 15 Joe Carpenter.

Sale replacements: 16 Alfie Longstaff, 17 Ralph McEachran, 18 Patreece Bell, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Tristan Woodman, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Ollie Davies, 23 Marius Louw.

Bath’s next match is a friendly at CHAMP Rugby side Bedford Blues on Friday 11th September (7.30pm).

Tickets for the game at Goldington Road are available at https://bedfordrugby.co.uk/tickets