Bath were caught out on the counter attack on several occasions during this game and in the dying moments of the match I held my breath as Worcester spread the ball wide right and it was left to Peter Short to guard Victor's Corner on his own. It was odds-on that Worcester would score as the ball was chipped forward towards the try-line. However in an effort to save his side Short grabbed the shirt of his opponent and shoved him away from the ball and the only outcome appeared to be a try or penalty try. Whatever the case Bath were going to lose at the death in a game where the lead ping-ponged between both sides.

There was no try, as the attacking player couldn't grab the ball, so it was bound to be a penalty try and I waited for Rosey to trot under the posts signalling the very late loss of this game. But it wasn't to be and the game ended with a very fortunate victory for the home side. Amazing! No wonder some of the Worcester supporters around me were calling for the ref's head - I would have been gutted had the boot been on the other foot.

This was a game of nip and tuck, with each side scoring four tries and both sets of players determined to run the ball at every opportunity. Unfortunately their skills didn't always match their ambition which meant the game was littered with mistakes. Nevertheless it was quite an enjoyable spectacle - it would be churlish to say anything else after eight tries had been scored!

Bath got off to a shocking start by conceding a try after just 3 minutes, when Thomas Lombard dived over the goal line at the Club House end, but pulled things back 8 minutes later through a Chris Malone penalty after a bit of shenanigans in the scrum. Interestingly Malone spurned the chance to kick several other penalties at goal during the first half, instead opting for touch. Unfortunately he was wearing my kicking boots and so his hoof lacked the normal power and each time he placed his side on the back foot.

The game ebbed and flowed until almost 30 minutes had elapsed when Bath took the lead through a Taufa'ao Filise try. Chris Malone finally found touch with a penalty and Zak Feau'nati rumbled forward at the back of the ensuing rolling maul. Filise took the ball from Feau'nati to fall over the line to score.

Bath then took control of the match and spent the next 10 minutes enjoying almost total possession. However the home side conspired to set up Worcester for a try from nowhere. At an innocuous ruck in midfield, Andy Williams found himself sucked in to the melee. The forwards decided the solution was to pick up and drive yard after yard to gain time for their scrum half to re-gather himself but Williams couldn't extricate himself before Mike MacDonald grabbed the unguarded ball and dashed up-field before off-loading to Dale Rasmussen to give the visitors a 8-10 lead at half time.

Worcester started the second half as they had the first, charging at the Bath line and they almost repeated their first half exploits with another try. The Bath defence held firm and stopped their opponents from touching the ball to ground over the goal line. Fortunately for the home supporters, the Bath players started to get their act together and a series of exciting running and passing phases ended with a try for Zak Feau'nati from a five metre scrum. 

A few minutes later Bath extended their lead with a try from Joe Maddock and the crowd went wild shortly afterwards when it appeared that Michael Stephenson had scored a fourth try. James Hudson picked the ball up on half-way and ran some 40 metres before off-loading to Stephenson. We were still dancing in the aisles as we noticed that referee Rose had deemed the final pass to be forward and instead of setting up for a conversion, the players were getting ready to scrummage. To say we were disappointed would be to devalue the term.

Bath again appeared to go off the boil when they should have closed the game out. After camping on the Worcester line for ages Bath dropped the ball and created an excellent breakaway try for Tom Harding to give the visitors the lead.

A try by Michael Stephenson with 14 minutes to go was the final points on the board and sealed a hard fought victory for the home side.

Fortunately for Bath the Worcester kicker, James Brown, didn't "feel good" as he missed a number of kicks at goal to keep Bath in the game throughout. I was taken with their winger, Uche Oduoza, who looked lively, fast and strong and keen to get stuck in. I do like powerful wingers as they take some stopping and this bloke fits in to this category.

Andrew Higgins had another good game, again showing his strength both in the tackle and with the ball but my Man of the Match was James Hudson. He played with such skill and athleticism that I inwardly groaned at the thought we have let this lad go elsewhere. I know why he is going but surely he was the future?

Prior to the match the Supporters' Club made a presentation to Michael Foley and the whole ground stood to applaud this likeable Aussie as he heads back down under to link up with his old mentor John Connolly. Foles will have been glad to leave Bath with a win, however he'll be even happier in the knowledge that he'll never have to hug Doug Gibbs again!

End of another turbulent season - I think we all need a rest!

Referee: David Rose

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