By Glen Leat
September 17 2005

After a disappointing start to the season, Bath Rugby can prepare for the next game knowing the 40-26 loss to Leicester does not reflect the closeness of the game or how near Bath came to winning. After giving the players a blast last week I'm very happy to say "Well done!" this week.

Bath got off to a nightmare start by conceding an interception try to Tom Varndell in the first minute. Olly Barkley settled his kicking nerves with a penalty a few moments later after re-adopting his old style "flapper" preparations. Twelve minutes in to the game and Bath found themselves in an attacking position which resulted in Ben Kay killing the ball from an offside position to give Barkley a chance to double his tally. After the Tigers' early opportunist score the visitors did well to re-group and claw themselves back within one point.

As in the previous two games, Bath secured a good share of possession but were not able to make the same progress as the home side. Bath secured a penalty at a line out after Grewcock's supporting players had been taken out. However the referee reversed the decision after Bath transgressed and Goode was able to extend the home side's lead with another penalty. 

Things went from bad to worse for Bath as first Frikke Welsh lasted only 25 minutes before having to be replaced by Finau because of yet another Bath backs' injury. Then Leicester grabbed their second try after Geordan Murphy chipped the ball up-field, it was grabbed and taken on by Varndell who completed the second part of the "one-two" to put Murphy in for the score. Goode converted to take the score to 17-6 at a time when Bath should have still been in the game.

However Bath showed real grit and determination and, after being victim to an early interception try, grabbed one of their own when Andy Goode made ground for his team but inadvertently offloaded to Andy Higgins instead of finding one of his backs. This was only Bath's second try of the season and Olly Barkley's conversion pulled the visitors within four points of the Tigers. Moments later the Blue, Black and White supporters were cheering when Andy Dunne grabbed a drop goal just before the half-time break to make the score 17-16.

Bath continued their pressure game throughout the second half and amazingly grabbed their second interception try of the afternoon as David Bory snatched another Andy Goode pass to run in for his first score for his new club. Barkley converted giving the visitors an unexpected 17-23 lead. Leicester hit back within minutes as Goode scored another penalty leaving Bath 20 minutes in which to snatch victory. But just as it appeared too good to be true for Bath supporters, Tom Varndell scored his second try which, with Goode's conversion, gave the home side a four point lead.

Goode then continued to break Bath hearts with two more penalties, to potentially deny the visitors a desperately important losing bonus point. However Bath gained a penalty with five minutes to go to raise spirits and skipper Borthwick opted (rightly) to go for goal rather than field position, unfortunately Barkley's kick was off target. Barkley was given another attempt with moments to go and this time his boot was strong enough to grab the losing bonus point but Bath were caught right at the end with the latest of late Tigers' tries, again from Varndell, which meant the West Countrymen would trudge back home without a deserved Premiership point.

Although this result leaves Bath at the foot of the league table, everyone can take heart from the performance and believe the players can build on this go to Newcastle next week and win.

 

Leicester Tigers: 15. Geordan Murphy   14. Tom Varndell   13. Leon Lloyd   12. Daryl Gibson   11. Austin Healey   10. Andy Goode   9. Harry Ellis   1. Alejandro Moreno   2. George Chuter   3. Julian White   4. Louis Deacon   5. Ben Kay   6. Will Johnson   7. Shane Jennings   8. Martin Corry   Replacements: 16. Ephraim Taukafa   17. Michael Holford   18. James Hamilton   19. Will Skinner   20. Ross Broadfoot   21. Ollie Smith   22. Alesana Tuilagi

Bath Rugby: 15. Matt Perry   14. David Bory   13. Andrew Higgins   12. Olly Barkley   11. Frikkie Welsh   10. Andy Dunne   9. Martyn Wood   1. David Barnes   2. Lee Mears   3. Matt Stevens   4. Steve Borthwick   5. Danny Grewcock   6. Andy Beattie   7. Gareth Delve   8. Zak Feau'nati   Replacements: 16. Pieter Dixon   17. Duncan Bell   18. James Scaysbrook   19. James Hudson   20. Nick Walshe   21. Salesi Finau   22. Ryan Davis

Referee: Chris White

 

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