Bath Rugby will go into their sold-out PREM Rugby Cup Round 10 clash with Gloucester Rugby on Saturday 28th February knowing that only a victory will do if they are to reach the semi-finals.
Bath Rugby’s young side battled bravely against Exeter Chiefs here at Sandy Park on Saturday 21st February but were beaten 31-19 in PREM Rugby Cup Round 9 | Photo © Richard Briggs
Defeat at Sandy Park against a much more experienced Exeter Chiefs side in their Round 9 encounter on Saturday 21st February means the Blue, Black & White are in third place in Pool A, three points adrift of the Cherry & Whites and seven points behind the table-topping Devonians.
Exeter’s 31-19 victory over Bath wrapped up their fixtures but sent them through to the last four.
Only one more semi-final place is up for grabs in Pool A – and it will be decided at The Rec this weekend when Bath lock horns with Gloucester in what is both clubs’ final group match (3pm).
The talk before the Chiefs-Bath tussle was how Exeter again named a very strong matchday 23, whereas the visitors gave lots of youngsters a chance – as has been the Somerset club’s policy all season in this competition.
The Blue, Black & White’s young guns gave Exeter a run for the money at The Rec in September, leading until the closing stages and falling 23-14.
And the Chiefs also had to come from behind on their own turf, Bath taking an early 7-0 lead and staying in front until the second quarter.
But, unsurprisingly, Exeter – with Henry Slade and Greg Fisilau both coming off the bench around the hour mark – hit back for the expected win, although the guests battled bravely throughout.
The Chiefs ended up with 62% of the possession and 64% of the territory.
They gained 449 metres in attack, the Blue, Black & White gaining 229 metres.
Exeter got into the travellers’ 22 on 14 occasions, Bath managing eight incursions.
And the guests were forced to make 192 tackles, the home side making 126.
Still, the Blue, Black & White started very well. They were held up on the right in the sixth minute but scored the game’s first points when, in the eighth minute, Will Butt stretched to down the ball to the left of the posts. Will Roue majored.
Exeter responded with an 18th-minute try in the left corner from Dan John following a tap penalty. Harvey Skinner missed the conversion and the visitors stayed ahead.
However, two more Exeter tries in the space of six minutes turned the game on its head.
In the 23rd minute, Olly Woodburn went over on the left to finish a move that owed a lot to a superb jinking run on the right by Paul Brown-Bampoe. Skinner landed the conversion.
And it was soon 19-7, Lewis Pearson setting up John for a score in the left corner and Skinner adding the extras.
With the clock in the red as half-time beckoned, Bath seemed set for an interception try. However, Butt – who will join the Chiefs in the summer on a three-year deal – knocked on 10 metres inside the guests’ half as he looked to surge upfield.
Before a crowd of 10,664, Exeter were held up five minutes into the second period. But they secured the four-try bonus point six minutes later.
Zack Wimbush was the scorer, capping a great run by forcing his way over on the right despite having a would-be tackler hanging onto him for several seconds. Skinner was unsuccessful with his conversion attempt and the Chiefs led 24-7.
But Bath added their second try when – in the 57th minute – Sam Winters crossed on the left and cut inside to dot down near the posts, Roue kicking the two points to cut the deficit to 10. Winters was a late call-up for the Blue, Black & White, getting his chance on the left wing in place of Charlie Griffin.
Exeter unleashed Slade in the 58th minute and Fisilau three minutes later.
Home supporters were certainly energised by Slade’s presence, and the versatile back got his name onto the scoresheet when he converted the Chiefs’ fifth try.
Jimmy Roots bulldozed over just to the right of the posts in the 74th minute and Slade booted the extra points.
But the last word went to Bath, who made a raft of changes to their XV in the final quarter.
The clock showed that play was in the 80th minute when Dan Frost – up against his previous club – scored from short range in the left corner. James Linegar was unable to convert.
Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Jack Bennett, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 George Timmins, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Will Roue, 11 Sam Winters, 12 Will Butt, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Austin Emens, 15 Tom de Glanville.
Bath replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 James Maloney, 20 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 James Linegar, 23 Tyler Mason.
Exeter starting XV: 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Max Norey, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Rusi Tuima, 6 Martin Moloney, 7 Finn Worley Brady, 8 Ethan Roots, 9 Tom Cairns, 10 Harvey Skinner, 11 Olly Woodburn, 12 Ollie Batson, 13 Zack Wimbush, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 15 Dan John.
Exeter replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Joe Bailey, 20 Greg Fisilau, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Henry Slade.
As it stands, the Chiefs are set for a home tie in the semi-finals.
They will stay at the top of Pool A if Bath get what they need against Gloucester.
But a bonus-point win for the Cherry & Whites at The Rec would see them finish at the head of the mini league, with Exeter ending up second and visiting Leicester Tigers in the last four.
