THE GREAT ESCAPE. BATH V NEWCASTLE FALCONS. 10 MAY 2003.
Barkley: assured
By PG Tips
May 10 2023
Today is the 20th anniversary of one of the most crucial moments in Bath’s history. The 24-12 victory over the Tynesiders is overshadowed in the memory by “that try” scored by Elvis Seviali’I against London Irish a month earlier, but it was vital to secure Bath’s place in the Premiership at a perilous time. Not only that, but victory also staved off the dual threats of a merger with Bristol or a slide into oblivion, due to Premiership ground suitability regulations.
At 8,350 the Rec capacity did not meet the recently introduced requirement of 10,000 which had thwarted Rotherham’s attempts at promotion the previous season. No matter Bath’s history as the dominant club of the preceding two decades, the Premiership, intent on growth but also on protecting the established clubs, had introduced the regulation for aspiring newcomers and instructed incumbent clubs to upgrade as soon as possible. Dropping to the Championship would not only have lost Bath their international players, but strained the finances needed to expand the Rec’s ground capacity to meet the new requirements. Bankruptcy may not have been inevitable, but certainly seemed a possible fate.
In a dramatic finale, the relegation battle on the last day pitted the four bottom clubs against each other. London Irish hosted Bristol at the Majedski, while Bath had the dubious pleasure of taking on Newcastle, for whom Jonny Wilkinson was in imperious form as England’s Grand Slam fly half. One of the losing teams was bound to drop, which one to be determined by points difference.
The match itself was memorable more for the passion, result and relief than the quality of play. The Rec was packed on a chilly, overcast afternoon, with a damp, gluey pitch but all the 8,300-capacity crowd cared for was the result. A couple of Wilkinson penalties seemed to spell early doom, despite the most fervent roars of the entire season from the faithful. Then, about 20 minutes in, Ian Balshaw exploited a moment’s hesitation in the Falcons’ defence (caused by an injury to opposite number Tom May) to race in for the first try. Olly Barkley, who played with assurance and control throughout, outplaying Wilkinson, converted as he did just before half time when Tom Voyce (one of a number of leavers to excel) grabbed a second touchdown.
Another leaver, Nathan Thomas scored with a short- range charge from a ruck midway through the second half. Barkley converted that too and added a penalty. The Falcons, rattled by the intensity of Bath’s defence, could muster only penalties and drop goals from Jonny Wilkinson. John Mallett, retiring from rugby to coach at Millfield School (and incidentally, nurture a steady stream of candidates for Bath’s Academy) left the field to a standing ovation. News filtered through that London Irish were well on top in Reading, so Bath’s 12-point margin was enough for survival. The final whistle brought cheers and tears of joy not seen since Bath had won the Heineken Cup five years earlier.
Bristol’s drop to the second tier put paid to Malcolm Pearce’s plan for a merger (which faced considerable opposition from supporters in both cities anyway) but gave Bath the chance to recruit from their neighbours’ squad for the inevitable rebuild that followed. A new DOR, new game plan and considerably revamped squad saw fortunes improve dramatically in 2004, Bath topping the regular season table by 2 games and 6 league points from Wasps. They were to under achieve in the final, losing narrowly to the Black and Amber, but pride, and a place at the top of the domestic game, had been restored.
“So what?” You may ask. Simply, an important historic moment, whose significance should not be forgotten. Is there perhaps too, an omen? In 2002 Bath had narrowly avoided bottom place, but Leeds Tykes were saved by the ground regulations. Bath, saved by the Covid induced relegation moratorium last season, have battled their way off the bottom this year. Can they charge for and challenge the top next season, as they did 20 years ago under John Connolly? Let us hope so.
Teams that day:
Bath: Balshaw; Seveali'i, Maggs, Tindall (Catt, 73), Voyce; Barkley, Cooper; Barnes, Humphreys (Mears, 64), Mallett (Stevens, 50), Beattie, Grewcock (Capt), G Thomas (Scaysbrook, 80), N Thomas, Lyle (Delve, 62).
Tries: Balshaw, Voyce, N Thomas. Cons: Barkley 3. Pen: Barkley.
Newcastle: Shaw (Walder, 73); May (Botham, 14), Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson; Wilkinson, Grindal (Charlton, 60); Peel, Makin, Hurter (Ward, 51), Hamilton, Vyvyan, Newby (Dunbar, 22), Mower, Arnold (Dowson, 51).
Pens: Wilkinson 2. Drop-goals: Wilkinson 2.
Referee: C White (Gloucestershire).
Attendance: 8,350.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:23:07:50:39 by P G Tips.
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
Inadequate coaching set up?
PG
Quote:Optimist
.... is that Catty's age in brackets?
And missed.
Danger averted. We cleared our lines.
But I still wonder whether Johnny was doing us a favour.
10 nine year old boys expecting nothing else but a Bath win.....oh the optimism of youth.
With Dan Lyle coming round in tears after the game and the boys playing touch rugby on the pitch the cry went up "Say it ain't so Tom (Voyce)" who joined in with the TR game.
I understand on the Friday morning Matt Perry gave a talk to the team setting out the importance of rugby and the club to the people of Bath.....not a dry eye in the house!
It was a great day and one I will always remember.
It was extraordinary a general wave of relief on the final whistle and of course the news from LI v Bristol. This led directly to Malcolm Pearce losing circa £10m he had put into Bristol.
PS Excellent piece, thanks for the memories PG Tips. (And all the other excellent writing over the yeats.)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:14:20:45:10 by Susanne.
He was told he had to go to catch the plane back to Newcastle but kept signing and missed the plane