By fatlad76
October 7 2022

I was really optimistic about this game especially after seeing the performance of Bath from last week. This was a game that we really needed a maximum from. The side looked extremely strong on paper, but I was a little surprised seeing Ben Loader starting. Only because he played against Northampton and I thought he would need more time to get back to his former self. In hindsight, what do I know.

The game initially sold as a battle of the 13’s, brother against brother and it was interesting to hear that there were 20 family members at the game. However, it was never going to be about them it was always who had the longer lasting battery, the ability to sweep from side to side and get into the corners. Only then would we see who had the better machine.

I also noticed, during the warm up, that Dunn had trimmed his rug! Clearly didn’t want to get that tangled in the brushes.

So, from the start Bath had possession but after 2 minutes Ben Loader turned over the ball and the subsequent attack Ollie HC was in at the corner and around for the try. Paddy slotted over for the bonus.

London Irish were then playing with some freedom. Every break saw fast hands as we went wide from side to side. A couple of attacks were stopped by a turn over and a penalty but we were looking very threatening. When Bath had the ball they had little penetration and our defence was great especially Pearson and van Rensburg.

After a scrum penalty, Paddy put us into the 22 and on 13 minutes Ben dives over the line. Paddy once again converts from wide.

From the kick-off, there was once again some good defence and Bath were eventually forced to kick. Arundell takes the mark which was intelligent and unlike him but the right thing to do. However, from the lineout the ball goes across the field and a missed tackle from Joseph plus failure to cover from van Rensburg sees Bath in at the corner. However, Bailey misses the conversion.

Bath were back on the defensive from the restart after crossing gave us a penalty in the corner.

The play goes back and forth with some messy bits but we don’t loose the ball which was good. With a Bath player down in the middle of the field and medics on, the play is not stopped. Eventually the ball goes wide and Loader gets his second. Paddy converts again. This is now getting to be really entertaining and clinical from London Irish.

The restart once again is poor from Bath and ends in an Irish penalty and back to the Bath half. With the penalties mounting Bath get a yellow for continuous infringements and back into the corner. There could be another Bath yellow but the ball goes wide to Ollie HC and he walks it in. Paddy slots it over from the other side of the field and we have a bonus point within 27 minutes.

On 32 minutes, Bath have possession and as the ball crossed the field Simmons intercepts only to be called offside. There was no call prior to that from Dickson and I did not see anything wrong live. Watching the replay several times since, I still can’t see the clear offside so I think hard done by there and Dickson making it up as he goes. Would Simmons have gone the 60 yards? Probably not but I can think of 5 who would have appeared on his shoulder before he crossed the half way line!

The play is now sweeping back and forth across the field and it is a delight to see the fast hands and feet when you see the interaction between Joseph, Arundell and Ollie HC on one side and with Loader on the other side. It just looked so threatening as they run lines off each other to keep it going. Eventually on 38 minutes, Ollie HC walks in at the corner for his hat-trick. Half time and 35-5, a clinical first half but don’t forget what happened against Wasps a week before.

Second half need to keep it going but from the start we are playing in the wrong half. A couple of silly mistakes, fumbling, no look passes, pre engage … and eventually a simple overlap for Bath’s second after 3 minutes.

After 46 mins and the props are changed a bit too early for my liking even though it is Hoskins and Goodrich-Clarke. It had the potential to aid the change in momentum and I think it did a little.

We are now making errors have we gone into low power mode? Has Bath found the turbo setting?

The first scrum after the changes and we have a break to change a shirt. Long delay and should have been done on the field not in the tunnel.

Eventually Goodrich-Clarke is penalized but Bath are stepping back in the engage. Really Dickson? Bath pressure sees big Joe going over. We really need to get a grip on this or it will slip.

Bath give away a silly penalty in the middle of the pitch and Paddy once again puts it in the corner. From the lineout, we have another penalty but don’t need it as Loader takes the direct route under the posts for his hat trick.

Fifty-seven minutes gone and 42-17.

Simmons goes off with an arm injury and Caulfield on, but we still have to endure Bath pressure. This is finally relieved by a Goodrich Clarke turn over.

Rogerson is replaced by Cunningham South with fifteen minutes to go.

Englefield also comes on and a mistake by Arundell carrying the ball out when he should have left it plus some other scrappy silly mistakes see Bath back in the corner.

The pressure comes on and we give away three consecutive penalties with Bath eventually get the BP try. Should not have allowed this to happen. Eight minutes to go. We also get a yellow which was a bit steep since they scored.

Coming back out of defence, from the restart, Bath give away a penalty and Paddy put them back into the corner but poor support sees Ollie HC turned over with no one over him. Gonzalez comes on for Pearson who was excellent yet again today. This was even after hobbling from a challenge in the first 2 minutes.

Dickson now trying to find any reason to turn the result around by penalizing everything including a hair out of place it seems.

Joseph off for Stokes and Bath get a pushover try.

What is going on there is only 3 minutes to go. Surely, we are not going to cough up a loosing bonus point to them?

In trying to run out from their line, Bath get semi intercepted by Ollie HC but the ball goes backward to Paddy who runs it in and cramps. Englefield takes the kick and misses with a minute to go. Game over but .. Dickson bins Goodrich-Clarke and a lineout in the corner results in the ball being forced over by Bath. Full time 47-38.

How did they get 6 tries when they looked so poor?

So, I walked away from the game a bit deflated. We had a great first half but then let them win the second. OK a 5-1 return is great but should have been 5-0. Am I being greedy?

Looking at the match stats we had only 41% possession and 38% territory. Bath were better statistically in all other areas so sort of reinforces the odd feeling but at the end of the day we did the job and cleaned up!

In summary, Dyson might have all the bells and whistles, cost a bit more, but if you want an efficient machine to do the job, sweep from side to side and clean up, I would suggest going with the Gtech!