Bath Aim to Continue Recovery

Fans are divided about the LV= Cup. To some it is a welcome novelty: a chance in a tournament aimed at development to see the stars of the future and, often, a more open game.

To the detractors it is just those points that are the competition’s weakness: a sideshow of a cup, shorn of top level players and top level intensity. In Bath, it is probably the LV promoters who feel happiest this week, after Bath returned to winning ways in Saturday’s seven try demolition of a hapless London Welsh, who despite a third quarter resurgence, never looked like threatening a win.

Next weekend at Sandy Park will be a tougher task. Seemingly below par in the early exchanges of their match against Gloucester, Exeter Chiefs roused themselves later on to snatch the game back and rescue the defence of their title. The holders will not want to repeat their slow start of last Saturday: their first silverware at elite level will hold an emotional significance for them and their passionate support will remember that it was in last year’s LV semi final that they gained their first West Country derby victory over Bath since 1979. Neither team nor supporters will be in a charitable mood after another close derby last week was won by only a single point.

Exeter may opt to reinforce their side in pursuit of a repeat performance this year. Cowan-Dickie, Mumm and Scaysbrook,- all familiar names to the Rec faithful, turned out for Chiefs against Gloucester. If they harbour ambitions of holding on to the trophy some other experienced forwards may get a run-out this weekend in an attempt to master a youthful Bath pack. Moon, Yeandle, Rimmer or Caldwell may get the call and Exeter have several hard running backs to call on too. Their plan is likely to be the usual Exeter style; high tempo, with continuous movement of the ball, fuelled by quick possession in order to create confusion and gaps in the opposition defence. A hectic and tiring match is on the cards.

Bath’s handsome win over Welsh will have done a lot for squad morale. It also gave much needed game time to those bench and squad players who must take centre stage over coming weeks while others are away on  international duty. Auterac, Batty, Ewels and Sisi shone up front, so too Devoto & Woodburn behind. Henson directed affairs well and there were some good flashes also from Catt, Orlandi, Banahan & Arscott. It is unlikely therefore that there will be much tinkering with either squad or game plan. Seven tries were scored and one or two more could have been added, but this was not a “happy go lucky”, fling it about approach. The win was founded on hard scrummaging, strong driving mauls off clean lineout possession and some direct midfield play, with both centres trucking it up, aided  by supporting forwards, who also drove on around the fringes of the resulting breakdown. Several of the tries came from driven maul or scrum dominance and the best of the wide play was sparked by direct thrusts up the middle first.

Bath will want to turn on the same kind of performance. A solid set piece platform, a good kick-chase game  and hard yards forward momentum should gain Bath quick, quality ball of their own. They will find Exeter harder to break down than Welsh, but have a positive performance to build on. There is more than one way to score as Bath have shown many times this season. If they get the edge in territory & possession then that variety will come –so should the win.

Likely Bath squad:
  Auterac, Batty, Palma-Newport, Ellis, Ewels (Capt), Northcote-Green, Mercer, Sisi. Cook, Henson, Lane, Devoto, Banahan, Woodburn, Arscott
Bench: Catt, Dunn,Shiells, Orlandi,Garratt, Woolstencroft, Young, Clark, Wakecokecoke,