Bath Miss Balshaw Magic And Are Crushed By Leeds
Not Barkley's game
By Glen Leat
January 4 2003
Bath returned to their losing ways at Headingly when they failed to create more than one scoring chance and looked wholly lacklustre as they lost to Leeds Tykes 20 - 7. The late loss of Iain Balshaw through injury appeared to knock the confidence of the whole Bath team.
This was a very disappointing display with
little for Bath fans to cheer about with
the exception of the defensive display of
Matt Perry. His positional play and assuredness
under several very high balls clearly demonstrated
why he has to be our number one full-back
with Balshaw playing on the wing. Unfortunately
for Bath, without the likes of Balshaw playing
in the backs we appear to be one dimensional
and despite Perry's strong defensive role
he is not the player to bring the ball out
of defence and start a counter attack.
On a very cold January evening in North Yorkshire
the players could have been forgiven for
preferring a nice evening in by the fire
than facing a hard and gritty team more used
to playing in these conditions, and at times
it looked as though the Bath players were
dreaming of their warm bath rather than the
job in hand. As in the game at the Rec a
few months earlier the Bath backs could not
break through the Leeds defence and the option
of Cooper's box kicks did not work as the
hang time was insufficient to enable Voyce
and Danielli to make ground to put pressure
on the catcher.
On one occasion when a Bath high ball did
work was an Olly Barkley hoof up north which
enabled Mike Tindall, who was playing his
100th game for Bath, to tap back and generate
a Leeds knock-on at the edge of their twenty-two
line. Unfortunately Gavin Thomas then decided
to have a flip at the ear of an opponent
and referee Dave Pearson had no alternative
but to award a penalty to Leeds and allow
them to clear their lines.
This indiscretion by Thomas followed a binning
of John Mallett for fighting with his opposite
number, when added to the high number of
penalties conceded and unforced errors by
Bath, a large question mark was left hanging
over the discipline and concentration of
the West Countrymen on this disappointing
evening.
Bath had the first scoring chance of the
game with a 4th minute penalty but Barkley
missed and Leeds soon took the lead after
a limp Gareth Cooper box kick set up a jinking
Albenese run which saw him trick Voyce and
slip two other defenders before off-loading
to Mather who earned the penalty attempt
for Van Straaten. Within a minute Leeds had
another easy attempt at goal after David
Barnes had taken the ball as first receiver
instead of Barkley and had no choice but
to fall on the ball and concede a penalty.
Amazingly Van Straaten missed the kick but
Bath gave themselves more trouble as the
re-start kick was as poor as you'll see all
season.
Leeds grabbed another penalty before Tom
Palmer stole in for a try in the 35th minute
to make the half time score 13 - 0 to the
home side. Despite so much possession Bath
were being made to look clueless through
clever kicking by Gordon Ross and some very
strong defending.
Bath started the second half as they finished
the first, making mistakes and conceding
penalties. Van Straaten hit the post with
one attempt and Steve Borthwick cleaned up;
unfortunately Barkley's clearance kick was
poor and kept the pressure on the Bath line.
From the ensuing line-out the Leeds maul
created a massive hole in the Bath defence
and flanker Dan Hyde snuck through for the
winning score.
Bath created a chink of light in an otherwise
dark hole when Gareth Cooper scored under
the posts but it was too little too late
as Leeds ran in eventual winners 20 - 7.
This was Bath Rugby back to its worst, no
ideas, no penetration and too many mistakes.
Fortunately for us, Newcastle took a good
hammering at Sale otherwise we could have
been staring down the barrel of the relegation
shotgun this week-end.
Let's look at the result of your prediction
for this game:
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Bath scorers
Tries: Cooper
Cons: Barkley (1)
Pens: Barkley (1)
Drop Goal:
Bath:
15. Matt Perry 14. Simon Danielli 13. Mike Tindall 12. Kevin Maggs 11. Tom Voyce 10. Olly Barkley 9. Gareth Cooper 1. David Barnes 2. Jonathan Humphreys
3. John Mallett 4. Steve Borthwick 5. Danny Grewcock 6. Gavin Thomas 7. Adam Vander 8. Nathan Thomas