By Glen Leat
November 6 2004

After a week of controversy following the Stan Collymore incident, it was back to business for the Bath players and a trip to the ground where they recently experienced a good thumping by Northampton. But this time it was Saracens facing Bath rather than Saints and the debut of Frikkie Welsh.

The young South African joined Bath just a few days ago and already has made the sort of impact everyone linked to Bath Rugby could only dream about - a Bath winger making scoring tries look easy. Two tries on his debut is not a bad return for someone who is still getting to know the names of his colleagues, let alone the plays and Frikkie Welsh will be thinking Christmas has arrived six weeks early. Let's hope this lad can deliver a few more presents before the end of December!

Bath and Saracens started the day equal in everything, games played, wins, draws, losses and bonus points. The only thing Bath had over the home side was the fact that neither side were at home. Thanks to an administrative cock-up by Saracens their ground at Watford FC was not available and so this game was played at Franklin's Gardens. 

After an even first half, with both sides scoring two tries, making mistakes and providing an exciting game of rugby, this was followed by a second half where Bath took control for the first 20 minutes but allowed the home side back in to the match with late tries from new signing Glen Jackson and scrum half Moses Rauluni. It was perhaps fortunate for Bath that Jackson only joined the game for the last quarter of the match because he rejuvenated his side after they were out on their feet at 18-37 following the Tindall try on the hour.

As the clock wound down Saracens tried everything in their kitbag to level the scores but Bath managed to hang on to win 37-30 and leap-frog Leeds and Newcastle in the League Table.

Frikkie Welsh was in the game throughout, though his defensive skills did not quite match is offence, as a bobbling ball beat him to allow Hugh Vyvyan to touch down. His powerful style of wing play is something Bath have needed for some time and reminds one of the days when Jim Fallon would bash his way down the line. The silky skills of Brendan Daniel on one side of the pitch and Welsh on the other gives Bath a perfect balance(sic). Add to this a centre pairing of Mike Tindall and (a fit again) Robbie Fleck, with the likes of Higgins, Crockett and Davey waiting for their chance and things look good for Bath. However this super looking back-line will only work if Bath can forge a meaningful relationship at numbers 9 and 10 and whilst Malone played well today, we are still some way from having a confident and competent half-back pairing.

Our friend "Injury" again raised his ugly head once again, with Grewcock, Mears and Barkley taking knocks and Beattie and Higgins having to be replaced by Scaysbrook and Daniel respectively. Unfortunately Daniel was feeling his leg throughout his time on the pitch and one has to worry about his lasting the full season.0

This was a great game for the spectators, it's a shame less than 3600 were able to witness the excitement first hand. 

Both teams pick up a bonus point from this game for scoring four tries and Bath have the mamouth task next week of facing an in-form and free-scoring Sale Sharks.

Saracens: 15 Robbie Kydd, 14 Richard Haughton, 13 Ben Johnston, 12 Dan Harris, 11 Tevita Vaikona, 10 Mark Barttholomeusz, 9 Moses Rauluni, 1 Kevin Yates, 2 Matt Cairns, 3 Ben Broster, 4 Kris Chesney, 5 Simon Raiwalui, 6 Taine Randell, 7 Dave Seymour, 8 Hugh Vyvyan (c).

Replacements: 16 Raphael Ibanez, 17 Nick Lloyd, 18 Ben Russell, 19 Ben Skirving, 20 Moragn Williams, 21 Glen Jackson, 22 Paul Bailey.

Bath Rugby: 15 Olly Barkley, 14 Andrew Higgins, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Frikkie Welsh, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Martyn Wood, 1 David Barnes, 2 Jonathan Humphreys (c), 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Steve Borthwick, 5 Danny Grewcock, 6 Andy Beattie, 7 Michael Lipman, 8 Zak Feaunati.

Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Christian Loader, 18 James Scaysbrook, 19 Rob Fidler, 20 Brendon Daniel, 21 Nick Walshe, 22 Spencer Davey.

Referee: Sean Davey