Bath Desperately Need Win in Wales
bath flags
By Glen Leat
December 5 2002
Bath travel to Wales on Friday night after suffering a disastrous fortnight with humiliating loses to both Bristol and Sale. After giving GRan Parma a good hammering in the first round of the Parker Pen Cup this second round encounter with Bridgend will be much more difficult.
Injuries in key positions are still plaguing
Bath as Mike Catt, Matt Perry and Olly Barkley
are unable to play leaving Bath having to
rely on a recently injured Chris Malone at
fly half and the long awaited come back of
Iain Balshaw at full back. I am sure we all
wish Balsh the best of luck on his season's
debut and trust he has not been rushed back
because of another injury crisis.
The team listed below is based on the press
release from Bath Rugby so you can decide
whether to take it at face value or not.
Perhaps more interesting is the report in
tonight's Bath Chronicle which says Malone
can't play (because of injury) and Andy Williams
is to be used as a utility back. What's going
on?
But forget the match, if you can, the most
important debut of tomorrow night is Rolf's
Cartoon Club match reporting duties and I
wish him well. You will soon discover Rolf
just how much of the enjoyment you can lose
in a game as you try to make a note of the
key points.
My prediction for this game? Bath to win
by 10 points.
Watch it on TV on Welsh BBC if you can't
travel across the bridge.
Bath Team
16. Gareth Cooper, 17. Lee Mears,18. John Mallett, 19. Ross Blake, 20. Tom Voyce, 21. Gavin Thomas, 22. Adam Vander