Stunning try as Bath give hopes of PREM Cup semis spot a big boost

Bath Rugby gave their hopes of reaching the PREM Rugby Cup semi-finals a big boost by getting the better of Bristol Bears in an enthralling match at The Rec on Saturday 14th February.

Bath Rugby gave their hopes of reaching the PREM Rugby Cup semi-finals a big boost by overcoming Bristol Bears here at The Rec in Round 8 on Saturday 14th February | Photo © Richard Briggs

The Blue, Black & White won the Round 8 derby 33-24 to move into second spot in Pool A, two points ahead of third-placed Gloucester Rugby and two points behind new leaders Exeter Chiefs. The Devon side beat the Cherry & Whites 48-14 at Sandy Park the same afternoon.

Bath will visit Exeter on Saturday 21st February (4.30pm) in what is the Chiefs’ final group game, and then host Gloucester a week later.

The Blue, Black & White had only 47% of the possession and 50% of the territory against the Bears in a match that started in glorious sunshine.

And Bristol gained 452 metres in attack, the hosts gaining 393.

Nevertheless, Bath outscored their visitors by five tries – including a stunner – and four conversions to three majored touchdowns and a penalty.

Bristol had the better of the first period, helped by Bath fly-half Will Roue being yellow-carded in the 17th minute and flanker Thompson Cowan being helped off injured in the 20th minute.

However, the hosts turned it on in the second half, which included a first appearance at full-back for Max Ojomoh, and emerged deserved winners.

The versatile Ojomoh made a fine display, as did wing Charlie Griffin and number 8 Arthur Green – who both scored two tries – and props Scott Kirk and Kieren Verden, the latter pair sharing the Pol Roger Performance of the Match accolade.

The Bears opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Max Pepper received a lofted pass and touched down on the right. Sam Worsley added the extras.

But Bath were soon back on terms. Ewan Richards, on his comeback after injury, fed Green and he scored from three metres to the left of the posts in the 26th minute. Full-back Austin Emens converted.

And the home side moved ahead on the half-hour, George Timmins – who had come off the bench in place of Cowan – going over from close range in the left corner after a pass from Verden. Roue was successful from the tee to make it 14-7.

However, the Bears responded well to go into the break with a three-point advantage.

In the 35th minute, from a spell of Bristol pressure, Worsley set up Gabriel Ibitoye to cross in the left corner. A fine conversion from Worsley tied the scores.

Then, with the clock in the red, Worsley booted a 37-metre penalty from in front of the posts to give Bristol a 17-14 lead.

That is the way things remained until the 58th minute, when Bernard van der Linde swung the ball out wide to Griffin who dived over in the right corner. Roue’s conversion attempt sailed just wide of the left post.

But the lead was extended on the hour – with a breathtaking try which resulted from a break by Ojomoh on the right.

Ojomoh started his run 10 metres from Bath’s try line, shrugged off a tackle and then offloaded to Griffin just short of halfway.

Griffin surged through Bristol territory and exchanged passes with Timmins before touching down near the right corner, Roue converting to leave Bath 26-17 up. The try could well go down as the best of the season at The Rec come June.

However, Bristol were not ready to admit defeat. And in the 66th minute, skipper Harry Randall nipped over on the left from the back of a scrum and Worsley added the extras to close the gap to two points.

Before another capacity crowd of 14,509, Bath finally killed their neighbours’ challenge with a 69th-minute try, Green scoring from close range on the left to complete his brace. Roue converted.

In the 80th minute, Bristol suffered a further blow when George Taylor was sent to the sin bin.

Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Thompson Cowan, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 10 Will Roue, 11 Will Muir, 12 Will Butt, 13 Max Ojomoh, 14 Charlie Griffin, 15 Austin Emens.

Bath replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Jack Bennett, 20 George Timmins, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 James Linegar, 23 Chris Harris.

Bristol starting XV: 1 Louie Trevett, 2 Tomas Gwilliam, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 James Dun, 5 Steele Barker, 6 Joe Owen, 7 George Taylor, 8 John Edwards, 9 Harry Randall, 10 Sam Worsley, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 12 Joe Jenkins, 13 Benjamin Elizalde, 14 Max Pepper, 15 Rich Lane.

Bristol replacements: 16 Kieran Hill, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Sam Scott, 19 Ethan Surrey, 20 Raff Weston, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Charlie Powell, 23 Ollie Harris.

Tickets for the Exeter versus Bath game are available here.