Bath Look For Away Win At Leeds To Start The Year

Leeds
By Glen Leat
January 1 2003

Bath travel north to Leeds on Friday hoping to repeat last Saturday's victory and ensure that Leeds do not make it played two, won two this season. However we have to bear in mind that despite a recent poor spell Leeds are still third in the table and needing a win.

Not only are Leeds well above us in the League but they also have 12 points more than we do, which reflects their early season form, and they generally play well at home. With Bath on a roll and confidence flooding back in to the players' veins like water rushing down the Avon past the Rec this should prove to be an exciting game with everything to play for; a continuance of their winning streak for Bath, a vital win to halt their slide for Leeds and for Leeds coach Jon Callard a chance to "do the double" over the club which dispensed with his services at the end of last season. All the ingredients for a live TV rugby spectacular. Let's hope poor weather conditions don't spoil the show!

Bath managed to throw away the game at the Rec and with a rejuvenated Iain Balshaw back in their ranks and Adam Vander showing the forwards how to play at a brighter pace, Leeds will face a very different side to the one that limped off the Rec in October. This first game of 2003 is the opportunity for Bath to show themselves and their fans how they mean to go on for the rest of the season.

I want to see more of the same sort of thing we did against the Quins, playing at pace and not lingering over rucks. A great deal of pressure will be on Cooper and Barkley to make sure the backs get good ball and in a position from which they can attack. I really hope Perry is fit enough to start at full-back so Balshaw can replace Danielli on the wing. If we can hit Leeds early, as we did last week, an early score should sufficiently demoralise them so we can build up a winning lead. I'm getting excited about this match as I write and I haven't felt like that (about rugby) for quite some time!

I predict Bath will win this game and further demonstrate that Bath Rugby is once again moving towards being a force to be reckoned with.

Click here to remind yourself about the last match against Leeds.

Bath Chronicle report on last game can be found here.

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Last Meetings (Bath scores first)