Bath Cut Up By Saracens

By Glen Leat
April 24 2002

This game attracted a high degree of interest, not least because of the RFU conflict over the withdrawal of Balshaw from the Sevens. Michael Foley kept faith with the team well beaten by Leicester last week and the players tried their best to repay that faith but fell away in the last quarter.

Given that the main opponents at the wrong end of the table had all lost over the weekend both Bath and Saracens were keen for a victory that would see either side overtake Wasps and move in to the top eight of the Championship. The first half demonstrated the nervy nature of the predicament of both teams and all they could manage in scoring was a trade of penalties to leave the half time score at 9-6 to Saracens. Not very inspiring and a clear signal as to why these once successful teams have struggled all season.

However both teams opened their games in the second half and for the third quarter of the match it was the West Country team in control; it was almost a case of when rather than if they would score a try. However their best chance went begging as winger Simon Danielli was unable to finish off a sweeping move that seemed destined for points and the ex-Bristol man was devastated that he had not made the most of his opportunity. Saracens were clearly on the ropes and swaying under the barrage of Bath punches but Saracens' star Aussie, Tim Horan, kept his head and his drop goal in the 56th minute was the catalyst the Londoners needed to change the course of the game. Within 14 minutes of Horan's score, Saracens had taken their lead from 3 to 27 points with three quick-fire tries against a shell-shocked Bath and with them the vital four championship points.

Bath had defended so well throughout the first three-quarters of the match and it is ironic that it was this sound defence that forced Horan to have a drop kick at goal and create the platform for his side to go on a score their tries. Despite these three tries, it is fair to say that the Bath defence is well drilled by Ellery Hanley and is a plus point for Michael Foley to build upon but it is the attacking aspects of the Bath game the new coach will have to work on if his team are to make any progress next season.

A late charge down try for Mike Tindall left the final score at Bath 11 Saracens 33.

Can you believe that we have lost ten games in a season - it's unheard of!

Click on to the Saracens Rivals.Net site for their perspective on things.

Have a look at the latest league table.

So what did you think of the Bath players in this game? Give a rating and this will contribute to a cumulative score throughout the season.

Bath Player Ratings` Click below to have your vote Vote Now

And what about the performance of the referee? Vote Now to leave your opinion.

This Weekends' results

Bath scorers
Tries: Tindall
Cons:
Pens: Barkley 2
Drop Goal:

Bath
Iain Balshaw, Simon Danielli, Alex Crockett, Mike Tindall, Tom Voyce, Olly Barkley, Kevin Dalzell, David Barnes, Mark Regan, John Mallett, Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock, Gavin Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Dan Lyle