By Duncan Wood
May 2 2003

A 20,000 sellout crowd to watch a Bristol versus Bath derby? Sounds like a reason to celebrate rugby in the West Country. Sadly, it could well turn into a wake with both sets of supporters turning up in a poisonous mood not knowing what is round the corner for either club. I’ll try and keep the off field shenanigans out of this. They have been and are being well debated on the various messageboards.

Let’s try and focus on Sunday’s game as a relegation dogfight between two teams staring down the barrel of Zurich Premiership oblivion.

It’s been a disappointing season for both teams. Bath have wallowed in the lower reaches of the Premiership table virtually all season with only the distractions of the Parker Pen Shield providing light relief.

It’s been a season of contrasts however for Bristol who weren’t going at all badly until Christmas. Then came the first of Malcolm Pearce’s announcements and the rest is history.

The bottom line is that both teams are potentially still deep in relegation trouble with Bath in 10th place on 32 points, Bristol in 11th place with 32 points and London Irish bottom with 31 points.

How all 30 players starting the game on Sunday will be able to focus on the match itself is beyond me. Yet they’re professionals and I’m sure they’ll do the job.

Bath’s late win a couple of weeks ago against London Irish could well prove to be crucial. After Sunday, they only have a home game left against a rapidly improving Newcastle Falcons who still need the points themselves.

They also snatched a late win against Saracens in the Shield last weekend so they seem to be rediscovering the art of winning at a crucial stage.

Bristol have had a torrid time recently. They suffered heavy defeats against Gloucester, Northampton and Wasps although they rediscovered their self respect against Saracens on Tuesday night.

I just hope that Bristol haven’t forgotten how to win. The off field distractions have been horrendous and you can only applaud the effort and focus shown at Vicarage Road.

Bristol have the players and the talent to win this game. They will also be busting a gut to do it for their supporters.

Bath will probably start as marginal favourites but beware the wounded Shogun…