Lilley hails Bath’s ‘outstanding’ first half in cup loss at Sale

Mark Lilley hailed as outstanding his young Bath Rugby side’s first-half efforts in their PREM Rugby Cup defeat by Sale Sharks on Sunday 6th September.

Bath Rugby’s Gallagher PREM opener against Harlequins will take place here at Twickenham Stoop Stadium on Friday 25th September | Photo © Richard Briggs

The Blue, Black & White continued their policy of using the competition for blooding up-and-coming youngsters, despite the Sharks making clear their intentions by naming – a week before the tie – a powerful matchday 23 bristling with new signings and internationals.

Despite falling behind early on, Bath moved 14-5 ahead – and Sale did not nudge back in front until the 38th minute.

The hosts completed a 50-28 victory but the travellers defied the odds by emerging from the CorpAcq Stadium with a four-try bonus point thanks to a last-gasp score.

Although the Blue, Black & White’s side was selected by the club’s head of rugby Johann van Graan, academy coach Lilley is in charge on matchdays during the first block of PREM Cup fixtures.

And Lilley was impressed by what he saw from Bath in Greater Manchester.

He said: “Lots of positives. That first-half performance was outstanding.

“Really proud of the lads, the way they went out there. And to get that bonus-point try at the end there was big for us.”

Bath trailed only 17-14 at the interval but found themselves on the back-foot in the second half.

Lilley said of the difference between the first and second halves: “I think it’s about controlling the game.

“There were probably times where we gave up the ball a little bit too cheaply there, and we gave them opportunities, times where we got in that final third and missed a couple of line-outs.

“It’s just building pressure on the opposition. We probably just gave up the ball a little bit cheaply.

“There were times where we could’ve distributed the ball a little bit more. But must be proud of the lads.

“I thought the way they went [toe-to-toe] with that forward pack for that first 40, even all the way through to the 80 there, we put pressure on their line and came away with that bonus point. So really chuffed.”

A great run by Scott Kirk – after he intercepted in the 37th minute – almost brought Bath another try.

Lilley said: “He’ll be talking about that one.

“He worked really hard, and he’s been working hard on his conditioning, and it was great to see him have a little trundle there.”

Bath have a bye in PREM Cup Round 2, which will be played on Saturday 12th September.

However, they will play two friendlies – at Bedford Blues on Friday 11th September and at Glasgow Warriors a week later – before the Gallagher PREM campaign begins with a match at Harlequins on Friday 25th September.

And Lilley hinted that members of the PREM Cup side will get game time in the warm-up fixtures.

He said: “We’ve got another couple of exposures for as many players as we can to get minutes, and there’ll be combinations that Johann will be picking to prepare themselves for that first league game.”