It was not the most exciting game but Bath Rugby got exactly what they needed from their PREM Rugby Cup encounter with Sale Sharks on Saturday 22nd November.
Bath Rugby overcame Sale Sharks 20-0 at a wet Rec in PREM Rugby Cup Round 5 on Saturday 22nd November | Photo © Richard Briggs
In Ryan Davis’ final fixture in charge of the group before the return of head of rugby Johann van Graan from his Investec Champions Cup preparations, the Blue, Black & White secured a bonus-point win at The Rec.
They scored four tries, improved their points difference substantially and put a big dent in Sale’s as they chalked up a 20-0 victory in the Round 5 match to set them up nicely for their next block of PREM Rugby Cup ties, which will be played in February.
Bath have a bye in Round 6 but will visit the Sharks in Round 7 on Sunday 8th February and follow up by playing Bristol Bears (home, Saturday 14th February), Exeter Chiefs (away, Saturday 21st February) and Gloucester Rugby (home, Saturday 28th February).
As when Sale visited The Rec in Gallagher PREM Round 2 on Friday 3rd October, rain poured down during last weekend’s cup game. And of course it made conditions difficult for the players. Even Tom de Glanville, who booted seven conversions from seven attempts in the PREM Rugby Cup triumph at Bristol last month, was affected – he missed all four of his kicks, although none was particularly easy.
Anyone in the sellout crowd of 14,509 expecting to see the Blue, Black & White’s powerful side thrash their youthful visitors by 40 or 50 points would have been disappointed by the fare on offer.
For whatever reason, Bath were off the boil. And while possession was shared at 50% each, Sale had 57% of the territory and made 14 entries into the hosts’ 22, Bath managing seven incursions. That said, Davis’ team gained 426 metres whereas the Sharks gained 260 metres.
Some of the stats gave Davis pause for thought. But Bath, who are third in Pool A, achieved exactly what they set out to do: they claimed a vital victory to keep their hopes of retaining the trophy very much on track.
The five points they gained closed the gap on the second-placed Sharks to one point. And there was that sizeable swing in terms of points difference, Bath now holding the upper hand there by 39 to 19.
The Blue, Black & White opened the scoring in the third minute, hooker Dan Frost going over from close range on the left. But de Glanville’s conversion kick crashed off the left post.
Sale pressed but Bath extended their lead when, in the 25th minute, Cameron Redpath fed de Glanville eight metres out and the full-back crossed in the right corner. However, de Glanville sent his conversion attempt wide.
Bath bagged their third touchdown when number 8 Arthur Green burrowed over from short range on the right after a tap penalty, de Glanville again pushing his kick wide from the tee.
Davis made six changes to his pack in the 52nd minute.
And the Blue, Black & White were disrupted four minutes later when centre Will Butt went off for a head injury assessment. Butt returned 12 minutes later – taking over in the back row from Ethan Staddon – and very soon scored the bonus-point try.
In the 70th minute Butt gathered a chip ahead by Neil le Roux and went over in the right corner, de Glanville again wide in his attempt to add the extras. Unfortunately for spectators in the West Stand, the exceedingly bright white light of the electronic advertising boards in front of the East Stand made it impossible to identify Butt as anything other than a silhouette as he ran in.
When Sale visited in October, their England fly-half George Ford dropped two goals. And in the 75th minute of the cup tie, the Sharks’ 18-year-old number 10 OIlie Davies tried his luck with a 38th-minute drop goal, only to miss.
At the final whistle, players became involved in scuffles near the Sale try line. But matters calmed quickly.
Tom Carr-Smith, the Blue, Black & White’s scrum-half, won the Pol Roger Performance of the Match award.
Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Harvey Cuckson, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Cameron Redpath, 11 Charlie Griffin, 12 Will Butt, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Sam Winters, 15 Tom de Glanville.
Bath replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Ross Molony, 21 Neil le Roux, 22 Ted Hill, 23 Kepueli Tuipulotu.
Sale starting XV: 1 Tumy Onasanya, 2 Ethan Caine, 3 James Harper, 4 Patrick Hogg, 5 Tom Burrow, 6 Jos Gilmore, 7 Tristan Woodman, 8 Reuben Logan, 9 Dom Hanson, 10 Ollie Davies, 11 Regan Grace, 12 Joe Bedlow, 13 Osian Roberts, 14 Obi Ene, 15 Alex Wills.
Sale replacements: 16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Ralph McEachran, 18 Patreece Bell, 19 Huw Davies, 20 Seb Kelly, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Toby Wilson, 23 Albert Bradshaw.
Saturday 22nd November was double-header day at The Rec – and the cup match was followed by Bath Ladies falling 35-28 to Exeter University in Women’s Championship South 1.
With van Graan back at the helm, Bath will resume Gallagher PREM action on Sunday 30th November when they take on Saracens at the StoneX Stadium (3pm).
The match has been declared the fastest sellout in the North London club’s history.
To register interest in any tickets that might be made available for resale, visit https://saracens.com/resale-tickets-for-bath/.
