A Cup Run Is Just What Bath Need


Supporters

By Glen Leat
December 19 2002

Bath travel to Wasps on Saturday for our first outing in the Powergen Cup this year with many fans apparently showing little enthusiasm for this match when only a few years ago the City would have been buzzing at the prospect of a mouth watering cup tie against one of our old foes.

Despite being 12 points and 5 places below Wasps in the League 48% of voters on this site have predicted a Bath victory and 33% a Wasps victory so that marvellous display against Bridgend last week must have stirred up a few passions and allowed heart to rule head! Wasps are fielding a very strong, fast and furious team and will take some beating by a Bath side still suffering from injuries to key players.

As ever the Bath coaches are keeping team news close to their chests, though this may be a case of having no choice as they wait to see who climbs off the treatment table with most body parts intact.

Bath are tipped at 25/1 to win the Cup by William Hill and with the likes of London Irish and Saracens each priced at 14/1 it might be worth a trip to the bookies to place a couple of quid on our boys. I think Bath can win this one but it will be close and there will be no more than five points in it.

Click here to remind yourself about the last match against Wasps.

Click on to the Wasps site for their perspective on things.

In preparation for this clash let's have a look at a few recent statistics:

Possible Bath team to play:

15. Iain Balshaw/Matt Perry
14. Alex Crockett/Simon Danielli
13. Kevin Maggs
12. Mike Tindall
11. Tom Voyce
10. Olly Barkley
9.  Gareth Cooper
1.  Dave Barnes
2.  Jonathan Humphreys
3.  Alessio Galasso
4.  STeve Borthwick
5.  Danny Grewcock
6.  Gavin Thomas
7.  Adam Vander
8.  Nathan Thomas

Wasps Team

15 Josh Lewsey
14 Shane Roiser
13 Fraser Waters
12 Stuart Abbott
11 Kenny Logan
10 Alex King
9 Martyn Wood
1 Craig Dowd
2 Trevor Leota
3 Will Green
4 Simon Shaw
5 Richard Birkett
6 Lawrence Dallaglio (Capt)
7 Paul Volley
8 Peter Scrivener

Replacements

16 Rob Howley
17 Mark Van Gisbergen
18 Ayoola Erinle
19 Mark Lock
20 Ben Gotting
21 Andy Kershaw


Played 26 %
Bath Won 16 61
Wasps Won 8 31
Drawn 2 8

Biggest Win

Bath 36 - 12 17 Feb 1996
Wasps 35 - 0 7 Feb 1999

Player Greats

Bath top try scorer Jeremy Guscott 7
Bath top points scorer Jon Callard 110
Wasps top try scorer Paul Sampson 4
Wasps top points Rob Andrew 65

Last Meetings (Bath scores first)

14 Sept 2002 27 - 27 The Rec
12 May 2002 22- 24 The Rec
2 Dec 2001 10 - 23 Loftus Road
6 May 2001 36 - 31 Loftus Road
17 Mar 2001 16 - 13 The Rec
27 Aug 2000 36 - 12 Loftus Road
22 Jan 2000 27 - 16 The Rec
5 Dec 1999 21 - 23 Loftus Road
7 Feb 1999 0 - 35 Loftus Road
5 Sep 1998 36 - 27 The Rec
17 May 1998 31 - 17 Loftus Road
14 Feb 1998 43 - 27 The Rec
6 Apr 1997 25 - 25 Loftus Road
14 Sep 1996 36 - 40 The Rec

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