The Only Way is Forwards
By Ian Whitfield (aka Blocks2u)
January 21 2012
I am in the fortunate position of being able to walk to the Rec with some great friends and approach the ground down the magnificent Pultney Street. These days the Rec experience is evolving and in the long term the experience of being at the Rec will hopefully become as good as the walk in. The big screen has been impressive since its first day nerves and is now running half time ads, every penny counts.
Today's game against Glasgow Warriors is the last Heineken cup pool game and Glasgow, who still have a chance of remaining in European competition, come with the same team that competed with the cup holders so grittily last weekend. Thanks to a try in the dying seconds at Montpellier last weekend Bath's opportunities in Europe have gone and the selectors have taken the opportunity to rotate some tired bodies. The suggestion on Ere that the players somehow dictate their starting place is quaint and encouraging because it looks like the Beaver is really keen to start for Bath in a dead rubber.
The weather is dry but windy and fairly mild, a good opportunity to keep the ball in hand. Glasgow kick off the first half and it’s straight out so back to the centre for a Bath scrum. Within 3 minutes Bath are under pressure in their 22 and concede a penalty for offside, it's a regulation kick for Weir in front of the posts. Bath scored the first try (converted by Barkley) eleven minutes in. Bath got a free kick and chose to scrum but poor passing gifted possession to the opposition. Glasgow mounted an attack on half way and struggling to make serious progress, when the ball was spilled in the centres and Biggs was on hand to collect and run in the try. Glasgow were very flat, so when Biggs got the ball he was already on his way through a hole and it was a comfortable run in for someone with his pace.
The Glasgow kick off was left to bounce and the ball was eventually gathered in the 22 but Bath were under pressure from the advancing Scots and were penalised for offside which gave Weir another chance in front of the posts which he took to make the score 7-6. Fifteen minutes in to the game and Bath were awarded a penalty for not rolling away about 45 metres out which Barkley converted to make the score 10-6. Mears came on as a temporary replacement for Dixon and the second quarter was largely dominated by Bath but they conceded possession too easily to make it count. Penalties were conceded once in the scrum and in the lineout, otherwise possession from these two was not conceded throughout the game.
Vesty came out for the second half in place of Carraro who had presumably had a knock and this meant that Banahan was moved to the wing. Bath had already given us a glimpse of an effective rolling maul in the first half and put it to devastating use on 44 minutes. From a line out on the Glasgow 22 possession was cleanly gathered and the maul set off on a measured and well marshalled march to the try line and a well deserved try for the hard working Skirving. In fact it was well earned by the whole pack who had a good game in the set piece and for most of the time in the loose as well. Barkley converted to make the score 17-6. It looked like Bath had already decided they had done enough and Glasgow started to gain control of the match.
Nearly an hour in Bath put Mears on permanently and Glasgow replaced Weir(10) for Wight and MacArther(2) for Hall; a few minutes later Heathcote came on for Biggs who had taken a knock and Vesty was moved to full back with Cuthbert going to the wing. Glasgow had some good spells in the backs with crisp passing and good running lines. This enterprise earned them a well worked try in the clubhouse corner by Seymour and converted by Wight to make the score 17-13. The fact that the possession for this attack was gained from a very wayward lineout throw is irrelevant, Bath had gone to sleep and Glasgow took their chance well. On the hour Cook was yellow carded after hands in the ruck on the half way, presumably this was a 'team' offence as it was about the third penalty Bath had conceded in quick succession.
Bath did a prop swap on 63 minutes and the usual raft of substitutions ensued (can’t be bothered to describe them all). While Cook was stewing in the bin Baths cover play suffered and a break from Halfway on the east stand touchline by Harley resulted in a try which was not converted to put them in the lead for the second time at 17-18. It was an industrious gallop by the flanker feigning to use his winger as he strode towards the line. Bath did manage a foray into the Glasgow 22 during the bin and were rewarded with a penalty for diving in and Barkley made it 20-18. Cook returned on 68 minutes and a full strength Bath would hopefully assuage the nerves of the fans. Another excellent driving maul was rewarded with a penalty to Bath for offside and Barkley capped of a superb place kicking display in a nasty wind to make the score 23-18 on 75 minutes, the team then worked well to close the game out.
It wasn't a great game to watch and Bath didn't help themselves with some poor passing and decision making in the offload. There were also three or four occasions where the ball was kicked away in attack needlessly. Never the less Glasgow had something to play for and well contained on the whole and the Bath forwards can certainly celebrate the win with some pride. I should mention the referee but words fail me.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:01:28:22:50:08 by Glen The Ed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:01:21:22:31:10 by CoochieCoo.
"The Warriors front row of Jon Welsh, Pat McCarthur and Ed Kalman were under constant pressure at scrum time, conceding a string of penalties, while Bath's driving maul was proving an effective weapon "
When was the last time we read that about a Bath pack!!
Great report, thanks! Any time you fancy doing another one just let me know ...
Ian
But even I (with as you all know my very limited knowledge) saw two priceless howlers though .............. Mr Rowden acting as 4th or 5th Official,seemed fairly relaxed about the whole thing.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:01:23:16:53:52 by devizes bath fan.
Looks like Haag has been practicing his Jonny W pose in no 8.
May I point BoB toward Nos 49 and 50.
OBinExile
Ian