In the week we celebrated Bath’s triumphant Heineken Cup final in Bordeaux, another seminal event came to mind. At lunch in my favourite Alpine restaurant I remembered a call I took there one April day twenty years ago. “I have to take this” I said to family and friends “from my assistant!” Thankfully it was no work crisis, but it was important. “Have you heard the result?” I could hear the excitement in his voice. “No, do tell?”” We won!” He exclaimed. “Last minute try-that new chap, Elvis!”
Elvis’ injury time heroics, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat was to open the way a month later to one of my 5 favourite Bath matches of all time, the end of season “Great Escape”, beating Newcastle at the Rec to avoid relegation and potential oblivion. I wrote about those five matches a few years ago in off season. You can find the article here: https://m.rugbynetwork.net/main/s105/st200162.htm. As nostalgia is the order of the day during our salute to the ‘Bonanza in Bordeaux” I thought I would invite us all to dig into our memory banks for other favourite moments.
The 5 I chose were:
5. THE GREAT ESCAPE BATH v NEWCASTLE 2003 4. STUNNING IN THE SUN. BATH 47 LEICESTER 10. MAY 2015 3. EXTRA TIME DRAMA: BATH v LEICESTER. PILKINGTON CUP FINAL 1996 2. GLORIOUS AGAINST GLOUCESTER: PILKINGTON CUP FINAL 1990. 1. BONANZA IN BORDEAUX. HEINEKEN CUP FINAL 1998.
But of course there are others. Perhaps your favourite memory was “The Battle of Kingsholm” in 2014, another nail-biting last-minute win in a game of 7 cards, or the European Challenge Cup win of 2008, also at Kingsholm seeing off the threat of relative newcomers Worcester. Those with longer memories may look to 2 outrageous pieces of daring from Stuart Barnes: in 1989 he won the Pilkington Cup against Leicester with a last gasp try on the blindside of a scrum and 3 years later broke the stalemate against Quins with only 40 seconds of extra time remaining by slotting a 40M drop goal. “Never in Doubt” he said when asked about it afterwards.
As Bath struggle through another season of disappointment and Johann van Graan with his coaching team try to build a new legacy, from a new era, it is worth remembering that he, and the present squad, have a daunting past to live up to.
So- come on COMLers. Tell us of your favourite days-or moments – in Blue, Black and White.
Agree with all the above but let’s not forget this ! ………Here
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"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
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Old Bath Tub Agree with all the above but let’s not forget this ! ………Here
That's the Tigers game I was expecting to come up, went to that one with some work colleagues who were all Glaws and Tigers fans, the all expected us to be humiliated. Dined out on that result for ages!
Highlight were Roko's try and Stringer's passes to Ford.
Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
April 1984, away at Nottingham, John Player Cup semi final, the promise of a first Twickenham cup final beckoned, such a tense game, David Trick scored the only try collecting a kick forward from Chris Lilley of all people. For the first time this match exemplified the emotions of cup rugby, the desire to get to Twickenham, the players and supporters felt it that day. 3 weeks later the icing on the cake, beating Bristol in a tense conclusion to the game.
gaz59 Oh come on, how can THAT final against Glaws not make top 5
Every time I come across the icon shirt, white with narrow black n blue chest hoops, in my sports drawer it brings a warm glow to the soul
It did gaz:
2. GLORIOUS AGAINST GLOUCESTER: PILKINGTON CUP FINAL 1990.
Towards the end of the 2003 season. Elvis arrives on the Wednesday, he is in the match squad because of injury, comes on in the 70 minute because of injury to Mike Catt. Receives the ball in our 22 tight to the touch, kicks through, collects and dives in the corner (Riverside and Hospitality) to score the fourth try and there bye collect a win and bonus point. People will remember how tight it was at the bottom. The crowd start chanting "Elvis, Elvis" and he has only been on the pitch 20 seconds!
Next game rearranged Bath v LI at home on a night game on a Tuesday.
Bath are winning just with a few minutes to go. LI get a drop goal from some way out kicked by the Barry Everitt kicks it for them to take the lead and condemn Bath to relegation. In the 86th minute Elvis scores to save Bath and they live to fight another day. Lovely scene of Danny Grewcock picking Elvis up.......Elvis brings Bath back from dead!
Then of course the game in PG TIPS list above. Being very stupid parents.........my elder son had asked if for his birthday party he could invite a bunch of mates to the Rec. Many weeks before I chose the final game of the season on the basis that the weather would be better.
It could have all gone so horribly wrong.......behind we was a man with a mobile phone linked to a mate at the LI v Bristol match for the whole match. One minute Bristol were being relegated, then Bath, then LI and then finally Bristol.......
I have never seen a group of players more emotional and more mentally drained than after that game.
BathMatt53 This was the one that I enjoyed most. Semi final, sunny day, great company, amazing atmosphere, brilliant rugby and a win against Tigers.
[www.youtube.com]
+1
Last top quality performance from a Bath team and the Rec was rocking
The 12-11 victory in the 1985 JP Cup semi final at Kingsholm is right up there for me. Our first win there for 17 years. Scorers Horton, Hill and Palmer and on our way to our second Cup.
All the early cup wins in 80s and early 90s up there for me, along with obviously the bordeaux trip.
Loved the barnsey drop goal win vs quins the season Jim fallon was unplayable.
On leftfield one I loved was about 12 years ago probably when we beat glos in torrential rain/mud bath at the rec about 6-3. In the days of mears, stevens, borters, grewy, banners etc I think.
I think there was a play off semi way before the 2015 one...probably about 25 years ago when we stuffed leic and Healey got his nose broken? Happy days!
Not necessarily the most important results but the St George's games at HQ were very enjoyable. Nothing anti Wasps about that, just anti media and the way they tend to put a slant on the game.
By the time of ko the TV production had barely mentioned Bath but they turned on the style in the sunshine. Cue commentators and pundits backtracking.
October 1985, we beat Bristol at home 26-7 on the saturday in a magnificent game, a rough and tough encounter at a packed Rec, in those days there was little control over the numbers of spectators coming through the gates and the place was heaving. Then only 5 days later on the wednesday night even more turned up to see the clash with Cardiff in what turned out to be a fiery encounter. Momentous drama, Bath's forwards magnificent and a narrow 16-13 win, the Bristol game had been outstanding but this game trumped that. Bath were on the rise and that week in October 1985 was a watershed moment.
The Tigers game in May 2015. Hands down. Because I was there and because we played beautiful, unstoppable rugby. Rugby from the Gods. I've never seen us play better, ever, and the Tigs were no mugs. There have been more exciting games but this was the apotheosis of everything that I had dreamed of for 20 years. I wept salt tears at full time because I knew I'd never see its like again.
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:02:07:01:23:03 by joethefanatic.
I can still remember Dan Lyle's face in that Newcastle game when word came through of the Bristol result. I'd stopped watching the game and had the binoculars turned on the bench in the hope of getting a hint!
The semi-final win v Leicester is my fave. Never heard or felt the Rec like it. Was a super hot day and I remember watching the game in a sort of daze, not quite believing that what we were seeing was anything more than a mirage. Magic.
I remember that win v Glos, charlie. 10-5 I think it was but maybe 3-0 at half time and S Barnes on commentary described it as the "biggest 3-0 hammering he'd ever seen" as we were so good in atrocious conditions. Amazing handling from Stevens and Mears, Beattie, Lipman and Browne super aggressive, James and Barkley in tandem, and Abendanon, on Barkley's point, with the perfect cross kick to Maddock to score. Steve Meehan rugby at its very best! As you say, charlie, a bit of a leftfield one but it's one that really stands out in my mind for some reason.
gaz59 Oh come on, how can THAT final against Glaws not make top 5
Every time I come across the icon shirt, white with narrow black n blue chest hoops, in my sports drawer it brings a warm glow to the soul
It did gaz:
2. GLORIOUS AGAINST GLOUCESTER: PILKINGTON CUP FINAL 1990.
PG
Thanks PG, no idea how I missed that one, guess I should have gone to Specsavers!
Pop stand fan The 12-11 victory in the 1985 JP Cup semi final at Kingsholm is right up there for me. Our first win there for 17 years. Scorers Horton, Hill and Palmer and on our way to our second Cup.
There was another great away cup semi final around then, at Welford Road in the mud and rain. When Tiggers were home favourites Palmer played a majestic controlling kicking game at 10. The noise from the BBW faithful in the old wooden stand was awesome
Pop stand fan The 12-11 victory in the 1985 JP Cup semi final at Kingsholm is right up there for me. Our first win there for 17 years. Scorers Horton, Hill and Palmer and on our way to our second Cup.
There was another great away cup semi final around then, at Welford Road in the mud and rain. When Tiggers were home favourites Palmer played a majestic controlling kicking game at 10. The noise from the BBW faithful in the old wooden stand was awesome
John Palmer, now he WAS a player, my favourite of all time
Pop stand fan The 12-11 victory in the 1985 JP Cup semi final at Kingsholm is right up there for me. Our first win there for 17 years. Scorers Horton, Hill and Palmer and on our way to our second Cup.
There was another great away cup semi final around then, at Welford Road in the mud and rain. When Tiggers were home favourites Palmer played a majestic controlling kicking game at 10. The noise from the BBW faithful in the old wooden stand was awesome
John Palmer, now he WAS a player, my favourite of all time
He usually played 12 from memory but the occasions when he played 10 and also 15 you could see what a gifted footballer he was
Thanks PG, no idea how I missed that one, guess I should have gone to Specsavers!
I think it was Neil Back who was most in need of a trip to Specsavers gaz (my No3 match, Extra Time Drama). He claimed he thought he had knocked over Andy Robinson when he had actually attacked ref Steve Lander!
John Palmer played a run of games at FH when Barnesy broke his cheekbone. JP showed his class & also let Richard Hill know exactly where he wanted the ball. JP was boss.
Remember he was England U23 FH when John Horton was England FH.
nigewing John Palmer played a run of games at FH when Barnesy broke his cheekbone. JP showed his class & also let Richard Hill know exactly where he wanted the ball. JP was boss.
Remember he was England U23 FH when John Horton was England FH.
nigewing John Palmer played a run of games at FH when Barnesy broke his cheekbone. JP showed his class & also let Richard Hill know exactly where he wanted the ball. JP was boss.
Remember he was England U23 FH when John Horton was England FH.
He was versatile as mentioned, at 10, 12 and 15, playing 335 games for Bath between 1975 and 1989 during Jack Rowell's reign. I remember him as the most complete centre we had then or have ever had since. It was a travesty that he only played 3 times for England
I was at a twickers cup final between bath and tiggers. I remember a bath fan before the match running on to the pitch, tackling the tiggers mascot, during which its head fell off, the fan then picked up the head ran half the length of the pitch with it and touched down for a try. I know we won but I cannot remember the year, can anyone help?
John Palmer lived about 40 yards from us when I was a youth and part of the reason we started going to the Rec.
One of the 1st games I went to he got knocked out on the touchline right in front of me. A decent fast bowler too in the summer months.
3. 1996 was my introduction to modern day rugby (I played scrum half at school). My mates asked me, in January, if I would like to join them at the final in May! I didn't realise the confidence in those days. We were sat in the South Stand, about 5 rows from the front, and, in the dying minutes, Bath were advancing towards us, while Tigers were committing all sorts of penalties, when Steve Lander blew up for the penalty try! To round the day off, I couldn't get used to the Tigers supporters, as we made our way back to the Rosebine (?) car park, offering us cans of beer and burgers, and congratulating us on a good game!.
My other Elvis memory was his first touch of the ball for Bath. At home against Sarries, on trial, just arrived in the country he came on with ten minutes left, got the ball in our half, chipped the defence and scored a spectacular solo try to get us a bonus point.
I remember watching that from the terrace, hasta. Who is this guy?! we all thought. Can almost picture the Chronicle back page on the following Monday (a daily paper back then) with some sort of obvious but fantastic Elvis pun.
Of course, the finish v L Irish has to be right up there with my most memorable individual moment. I probably watch it on YouTube once a month, too. Of course, Elvis finished it, but Gareth Cooper's pace to get on the outside of their 6 and draw the winger gives the King his chance. Still worried he's going to drop the ball over the line when he celebrates with a point and goes with one hand to dot down!
I couldn't sit still watching the game v Irish on TV, it was just too tense until Elvis dived in. I got the ironing board out and a few shirts to try and occupy my mind but probably ironed one the whole 2nd half and that probably had a triangular burn mark on it somewhere. I just stood there watching TV with my elbows on the ironing board and my head in my hands.
Not my favourite game at all and one handed dot downs did not help.
David Trick’s home debut against Bristol in 1979. Not just the three tries but the way he scored them. I guess he’s still the quickest player we’ve ever had (10.4 for 100m) but it was that change of pace that set him apart wasn’t it. That extra gear that was so thrilling. Beating Bristol back then was always something special but that particular day was really a day to remember.
Was at four of those games but missed out on Bordeaux as I worked in Worcester at the time and was quite busy so hadn’t organised myself in time. A regret of my life!
The 47-6 match is clearly my favourite but the Lander match was memorable as the tigger next to me was ecstatic when he heard the whistle that the game was over only to realise slowly that we had a penalty! Happy days!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:02:10:19:32:23 by CoochieCoo.
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