Back in the days of yore, before Sky's television schedule set such ridiculous kick-off times as 8pm on a Friday night, a boggy, a pitch displaying similarities to Sandford Lido on derby day would have got the players salivating.

Bath were fully deserving of their victory.
Not only did they monopolise the territory virtually throughout but some of their first-half rugby was a joy.
With Butch James and Olly Barkley playing the sort of football that was at times jaw-dropping, the home side dominated both territory and possession. If their invention was to be admired, their distributional games were even better and it took every ounce of Gloucester’s resolve to stay in the contest for as long as they did.

Bath's director of rugby, Steve Meehan said: "Perhaps Gloucester suffered because they were more conservative than they would normally be."

Handling mistakes were inevitable and prolonged games of aerial ping-pong ensued.

It is too early to seek defining moments in a Guinness Premiership season that lasts nine months but Bath may regard last night as one of them.

We were expecting a free-flowing feast. Instead we had a gripping joust of slug, slither and little audacity. That this top-of-the-table clash did not become a damp squib was due to the commendable attitude and skill of both sides.
The deluge did not dampen the spirits of those who mattered - the players. The two best attacking sides in the Premiership were not to be deterred. They gave it their best shot.
Dean Ryan, reared in the school of hard knocks as a player, has learnt as a coach never to drop his guard. Fate is always lurking in the undergrowth to mug the unsuspecting.

Gloucester were virtual strangers to the ball, except to kick it back to their hosts.

Gloucester were hustled out of their stride by a vastly-superior Bath pack, a huge collective effort highlighted by superb individual displays from flanker Michael Lipman and number eight Daniel Browne.

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