Glawster 23-v- (Sorry) Bath 6
By Glen Leat
September 24 2011
The Bath forwards struggled throughout this match as their team gave away the first local derby bragging rights of the season following a disappointing 23-6 result at Kingsholm. Yet Bath had chances to snatch a win in the final quarter but failed with head, hands and feet.
Bath enjoyed all the territory during the opening 10 minutes of the match with Glawster not moving the ball outside their half and it initially appeared this was going to be a good day for the Blue, Black and White - it wasn't.
Bath came close to scoring a try after 14 minutes when Abendanon attacked the Glaws line from a couple of yards, desperately trying to off-load to Biggs who was well placed, but strong defence stopped this opportunity and a few more phases later Bath lost out to a dropped catch.
Twenty minutes in to the game Glawster were penalised for going in to the side of a ruck deep in their twenty-two and despite playing several moments of advantage, it was Sam Vesty who opened the scoring with a penalty kick (0-3). Five minutes later Vesty doubled the score after Ryan Cauldwell was impeded at a lineout and it was a fortunate effort when the ball bounced off the crossbar (0-6).
Glaws opened their account with a Taylor penalty, after their pack easily pushed their way through the Bath forwards to the Bath line before spinning the ball wide to win the free kick at goal for a Bath infringement (3-6). Right on half-time Bath's pack continued last week's travails and creaked when put under pressure and this weakness gave Glawster their opening try by Dawidiuk, resulting from a penalty-lineout catch and driving maul following a dropped scrum. Despite Bath enjoying some 80% of first half territory they left the field 10-6 down.
Glawster extended their lead within the opening minute of the second half from another Taylor penalty after being penalised at a ruck after they tried to run out the restart from their own half (13-6). Taylor had another shot a goal a few moments later from 55 metres - fortunately he missed.
Dan Hipkiss saved Bath on their own line, after Glaws again dominated the visitors pack at a lineout, as he did what several of his larger colleagues failed to do: take control of the ball, to enable Matt Carraro to clear the danger. This lack of control by Bath gave the Glawster players increasing confidence which meant, for the rest of the game, Bath were going backwards more than forwards.
On the hour mark Tim Taylor stretched the lead to 16-6 with another successful penalty kick and was then immediately replaced by Freddie Burns: Bath heads were starting to drop both on and off the field. With 15 minutes left Sam Vesty missed a relatively easy penalty kick (Bath's first scoring opportunity for almost 35 minutes) and was immediately replaced by 19-year old, Tom Heathcote, placing enormous pressure on the Academy player. Heathcote was soon asked to kick a 48 metre penalty but failed with both distance and direction - what pressure!
With less than five minutes left on the clock, Dave Attwood looked like he had snatched a late try for Bath but lost control as he was about to ground for a score - aghhhh! Just as the Shed was in full voice, Vainikolo was sin binned for a high tackle on Tom Heathcote. Jack Cuthbert joined the "missers" club as he slotted the penalty attempt wide of the posts.
Glawster settled things when Heathcote knocked on inside the home twenty-two as Bath pressed for the losing bonus point. The home defence fly-hacked the ball up-field and Sharples successfully chased to score his team's second try. Freddie Burns' conversion made the final score 23-6.
No doubt the coaches will learn something from this performance!
Gloucester: Morgan; Sharples, May, Vainikolo, Voyce; Taylor, Runciman; Wood, Dawidiuk, Harden; James, Savage; Buxton (capt), Cox, Deacon.
Replacements: Cortese, Murphy, Chistolini, Lyons, Evans, Robson, Burns, Trinder.
Bath: Abendanon; Cuthbert, Carraro, Hipkiss, Biggs; Vesty, Claassens (capt); Catt, Batty, Bell; Attwood, Caldwell; Fearns, Mercer, Skirving.
Replacements: Lilley, Beech, Palma-Newport, Spencer, Beattie, McMillan, Heathcote, Scott.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:29:16:01:09 by Glen The Ed.
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Cheers,
Rich
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Their rolling maul was our downfall - we just didn't have the muscle to stop it - painful to watch. The try at half time was deserved, but overall we definitley shaded the half.
2dnd half - 2 penalties for Glaws and the heads seem to drop. We kept going from side to side and like last year no plan B.
We lacked muscle in the scrum - lineout was average - we didn't really challenge theirs.
I am so disappointed I thought we had them this time.
Having watched this fixture many times I don't think either side was near the level of past teams.
Very disappointed with the team performance.
After all the Bath TV build up, Attwood was invisible, blowing hard after 30 minutes, he cannot be fit, should have been taken off. Fearns and Caldwell best two forwards
Pack passive, backs too lateral, kicking poor; to say Tommy Heathcote is to blame is ridiculous.
Ordinary game, pragmatic no way, Glos shed persons were saying around me how did they win that game (Charlie Sharples strike excepted)
That was a poor effort from all at Farleigh.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:25:09:19:45 by callmeMrTibbs.
Quote:gloucesterwatcher
Was at the game in the shed in possession of my new Bath shirt.
Very disappointed with the team performance.
After all the Bath TV build up, Attwood was invisible, blowing hard after 30 minutes, he cannot be fit, should have been taken off. Fearns and Caldwell best two forwards
Pack passive, backs too lateral, kicking poor; to say Tommy Heathcote is to blame is ridiculous.
Ordinary game, pragmatic no way, Glos shed persons were saying around me how did they win that game (Charlie Sharples strike excepted)
That was a poor effort from all at Farleigh.
Bradshaw and Sheridan thought he put in a massive performance and was the pick of the Bath forwards.
I heard the cheer on the radio when Vainakolo was yellow carded for a high tackle on Heathcote, newspaper report makes reference to this too. Was it as distasteful as it sounded?
Ref Attwood: Bradshaw and Sherri can have their own opinion but show me the stats of line out takes(steals),carries,gain line breaks and tackles and I will believe them.
My basic comment still stands, I do not think Attwood is fit yet, he is a better player than he showed today.
Lesley's tackle on Tommy was high and dangerous, he should have got more than a yellow and a ice pack for his eye.It was not a dirty game prior to that.
If we did have a plan for the game their 10 and 12 channels should have been our entry points.
Quote:Yep - that was how it sounded to me, almost saying 'great job - worth the card'PhilHallFan
The Independent reports that Vainakolo was "cheered to the rafters" as he left the pitch. Not good.
It hasn't and we were RUBBISH.
Went up there with some confidence for this one, but fair play the Gloucester pride in the shirt(at home) won it for them.
Rugby is not a game for prima donas and nor is Bath Rugby! Sheer effort and spirit is a great leveller and overcame our so called 'class' it seems.
I would rather have people in Bath shirts who really want it and are prepared to die for the cause and fight for every blade of grass on the pitch than so called stars. Remember the days of Humprheys leading the guys in the trenches at the coal face when we had a very average side but we were topping the league!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:26:13:19:04 by wetside.
Basically ... not happy.
surely more of a technical weakness with our scrummage.
I have been very dissappointed with both recent local derbies...Worcester were simpley dreadful and Bath not much better..
I can see Glaws having a good to VG season but we do need to win some silverware of importance
Mr Attwood will come good for you...
Regards
Bob