Bath 23 - 19 Exeter
200 Today
By Phil Mitchell
September 18 2011
A grey and wet day, a late kick off time, and an Exeter team to play who were at the top of their game, with the scalps of Newcastle and the mighty Leicester at Welford Road hanging on their belts. Not an easy task ahead I mused on the way to the match.
And so it proved. Duncan Bell led the team out to tumultuous applause on his 200th appearance for Bath Rugby. The first half was really nothing to write home about, the weather playing a large part making handling difficult and a rumbustious Exeter pack making sure that Bath didn't have an easy ride. The home side probably shaded the first 40 minutes as regards endeavour and attacking attempts, but the scoring was all from the boot, with Sam Vesty just shading the Exeter 10, Ignacio Mieres, Bath going into the break 9-6 ahead. Lots of hard yards from both sides, Belly and Caldwell both very industrious, but no real continuity from either team. Mark McMillan made a sharp break out from an Exeter penalty that rebounded off the post, Biggys chased every kick off as though his life depended on it but the half time whistle left Bath fans wanting more, and I suppose the Exeter supporters were marginally more pleased with the outcome. One ironic fact worthy of note was that all three scoring shots from Bath came from offences by our old boy James Scaysbrook, who has certainly become more stroppy and abrasive since he left the Rec'.
The second half was a more entertaining affair, perhaps as a reflection of the improved climate over the ground. Barely a minute and a half had elapsed when a Bath move from deep in their own half saw the ever reliable and solid Sam Vesty release Dan Hipkiss who went on a 60 metre run, handing off Exeter tackling attempts as he went, to charge over next to the opposition posts, scoring his first try in Bath colours to rapturous applause and the evident delight of his team mates and the scorer himself. Vesty duly converted and Bath were ten points to the good, 16-6 up.
Bath continued to attack, one fine move being halted when Mark McMillan was hauled into a ruck whilst he was attempting to grab the ball, and David Rose saw fit to penalise Bath instead when our forwards attempted to clear out the Exeter player. Not the only odd decision by the legally qualified referee. Bath continued to offend in Mr Rose's view and Exter clawed the score back to 16 -12.
Substitutes started to appear, Ben Williams having already gone off to be substituted by Jack Cuthbert in the first half. Peter Dixon was the first for a copiously bleeding ear, Ross Batty taking his place, which didn't seem to help the Bath line outs all the time, and Michael Claassens appearing at scrum half soon afterwards. Having had to work very hard against the tough Exeter front row, both Flats and Belly went off together as well, and it did seem that our scrums were under even more pressure after this. However, the young props worked very hard in driving play, and after a long and sustained period of pressure on the Exeter line, with Cuthbert, Carraro and Hipkiss all going close, the Bath forwards eventually managed to batter over the try line, Nathan Catt somehow managing to burrow over under a pile of bodies, and be awarded the try after due consultation by the TMO. Sam's reliable boot made the score 23 9 and we had a bit of breathing space.
But the Chiefs were having none of this and kept hammering away, winning repeated penalties, Bath finally trying Mr Rose's patience to the extent that with a few minutes left and after two monstrous Exeter scrums on our line, a penalty try was awarded, appropriately enough perhaps given the huge effort the Devon side put in.
This left less than a minute to go after a very quick Exeter conversion, 4 points now the difference. A long Bath kick off saw the Chiefs trying to force their way downfield for a couple of minutes before a kick to their right wing saw the impressive Tom Johnson belting after the ball only to see it bounce back over his head into touch, signalling the end of a very tough and hard fought game.
Bath came out on top this week, nonetheless, but there will be many sore and bruised bodies today on both sides, and Exeter were hard and worthy opponents, who with a bit more spark in the backs could well have turned the result over.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:23:17:22:20 by Susanne.
Bath's defence, apart from 1 error last week, has been exceptional this season and the only time that Chiefs got within 5 m of the try line last night was in the last few minutes.
The truth was we didn't allow them any 'spark'!
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:18:14:32:04 by Phil Mitchell.
Fine report Phil
