Bath Went, Saw And Damn Near Conquered!

By Glen Leat
October 9 2004

Bath travelled to Leicster knowing history was not on their side. Few teams walk away from Welford Road with a result and today Bath were within four minutes of taking all the spoils. Instead they had to make do with a share of the points, but their stock has risen greatly on the rugby market!

The pride I feel for today's Bath team is only equalled by the pride I have felt in the past when we've picked up trophies at Twickenham. Few people gave Bath Rugby a hope in hell of staying anywhere near the current rampant Tigers team and yet we were just four minutes away from an amazing win. But let's be clear, a win today wouldn't have been a steal for Bath it would have been a deserved victory. The forwards played with heart and bravery against a spectacular Tiger's pack and the backs played, exactly as we thought (and dreamt) they could for the past 12 months, with pace, skill and an understanding that constantly places the opposition on the back foot.

Andrew Higgins put in some massive hits today, his strength belying his slight (for rugby) frame, Brendan Daniel made a couple of mazy runs as did Lee Best. Robbie Fleck was everywhere, both in attack and defence but it was Mike Tindall who really stood out. So much is said these days about him just being a crash, bang merchant but his running and passing were excellent and his strength is unbelievable. Watching him pump his legs and make ground with three or four Tigers hanging on to him is a joy, he looked more like a Number 8 than a centre!

The occasion of today was not lost on Bath skipper, Jonathan Humphreys, who led his team slowly from the changing room to the pitch savouring every moment and letting the Welford Road faithful know that his team would not be intimidated by their roar or their heroes. He was right on both parts and it was not surprising that he didn't leave the field until the final whistle or that he was named Man of the Match. It's after performances like we saw today from Humphreys that one realises what we will miss next season when the old Welsh war horse retires: big boots for someone to fill!

The Tigers ran out, with the applause of their adoring fans ringing in their ears, to the strains of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water". One could be forgiven for thinking this song came from the album Machine (against the) Head.

Leicester made their expected fast start, piling on the pressure, but it was Bath who scored first and what a great try it was. Robbie Fleck made a searing break through the Leicester defence and off-loaded to Michael Lipman to run in from 20 metres. The try-making pass looked a shade forward but referee, Chris White, was running alongside Lipman as he took the ball and was content that it was legal much to the chagrin of the Leicester fans. Barkley's conversion took the score to 0-7 and the ground was stunned. The silence got louder just a few moments later when Olly Barkley kicked a penalty to give the visitors a 0-10 lead.

The Bath pack was some 7 stones heavier than the East Midlanders and this made quite a bit of difference in the defensive areas, when the whole Bath team seemed to fall on the Tigers like a blue, black and white blanket whenever the home side made an attacking move. However weight cannot overcome technique at the set scrums and the Bath front row had a torrid time. Duncan Bell was particularly suffering as he popped up (so to speak) on several occasions, fortunately only being penalised once.

Towards the end of the first half the Bath pack was under tremendous pressure as the Tiger's pack scrummaged like men possessed. Scrum after scrum saw Leicester dominate Bath in front of the visitor's posts. But the Bath eight soaked up the pressure and eventually won turnover ball and set up one of the key moments of the match. The Bath scrum heeled the ball to Zak Feaunati who took it upon himself to clear the lines. A super drive forward by the Samoan gained vital metres, enabling Martyn Wood to get the ball to Mike Tindall so he could drag the Leicester defence with him out of the twenty-two and Olly Barkley kicked the ball some 70 metres up-field to set up a five metre line-out. This amazing defence being turned in to dramatic attack demonstrated everything that was great about Bath today. Another Barkley penalty gave Bath a 0-13 lead and the psychological boost of shutting out Leicester in the first half.

Bath always knew they would face a green, white and red torrent in the second half and so it was. Geordan Murphy scored the Tigers' first try, to accompany his 44th minute penalty, after Broadfoot had to go off temporarily with a cut head, but it was agonising for both teams as the game ebbed and flowed. Bath trying to keep their slender lead and Leicester trying to grab a late win. However with just four minutes to go Leicester's live wire scrum half, Harry Ellis, took the initiative from a ruck on the edge of the Bath twenty-two and beat Jonathan Humphries into the corner to touch down millimetres before sliding in to touch. The home crowd roared their approval and heaved a collective sigh of relief.

A missed conversion from Broadfoot ensured the game ended all square, which was just about the right result for both teams.

Bath are the only team in the League without a bonus point and this has to be the next thing for our coaches to work on. However let's not dwell on that now, let's instead enjoy today's performance and raise a glass or two to the Bath boys tonight. C'mon Bathhh!

Leicester: Murphy; Holtby, Smith, Rabeni, Vesty; Broadfoot, Ellis; Rowntree, Chuter, White; M Johnson (capt), Kay; Deacon, Back, Corry.
Replacements (from): Buckland, Morris, Deacon, Hamilton, W Johnson, Bemand, Cornwell, Healey, Hipkiss, Varndell.

Bath: Best; Higgins, Fleck, Tindall, Daniel; Barkley, Wood; Barnes, Humphreys, Bell; Borthwick, Grewcock; Beattie, Lipman, Feaunati.
Replacements: Walshe, Mears, Stevens, Malone, Davey, Scaysbrook, Fidler.

Referee: Chris White