Don't Wake Me Up It Might All Be A Dream!
Go Boys Go!
By Glen Leat
October 9 2003
We return to the Rec for a top versus bottom clash with the newly promoted Rotherham Titans. The visitors have already discovered the vast gulf between Premiership and First Division rugby and the rejuvenated Bath side will look to repeat the results of our last league meetings.
"Sweet dreams are made of this" and how sweet is the dream that Bath is once again top of the league. It's amazing how four straight wins on the bounce (not all of it kind) against teams that beat us convincingly last season can change your life. If you could bottle the feeling you get from these early results and performances you could reduce your beer intake (a bit) and generally be satisfied with your lot. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm still going to work every day I would know I am dreaming and wouldn't want to wake up!
Bath may be sitting proud at the top of the league but this wonderful position has not been earned without countless injuries along the way. There can hardly be a player who is not carrying a knock going in to this match and we have definitely lost the services of Matt Perry and Brendan Daniel. Rugby League convert, Tim Brasher looks to be making his starting debut on the wing (remember Tim in this game you have to let go of the ball) and I'm sure we all wish him well and hope he can transfer a bit of his world class talent from League to Union. Andrew Higgins has finally recovered from his injury problems and will be looking forward to representing his new club.
You have to feel for Rotherham, all that fighting to get up to the top league and they get a good hammering week in, week out. If Bath don't put 30 points on them and get a try scoring bonus point we should be disappointed, however the first job is to get the win and secure the four points that will keep us top of the league. This is an excellent week for us as our current near rivals are all in close match-ups that are very difficult to predict. Five in a row should set us up well for the visit of Sarries next week.
Probable Bath Line Up
15 Lee Best
14 Andrew Higgins
13 Jamie Williams
12 Olly Barkley
11 Tim Brasher
10 Chris Malone
9 Martyn Wood
1 David Flatman
2 Jonathan Humphreys ©
3 Duncan Bell
4 Steve Borthwick
5 Rob Fidler
6 Andy Beattie
7 Michael Lipman
8 Zak Feaunati
Click here to see the latest league table.
In preparation for this clash let's have a look at a few recent statistics:
| Played | 2 | % |
| Bath Won | 2 | 100 |
| Rotherham | 0 | 0 |
| Drawn | 0 | 0 |
Biggest Win
| Bath | 68 - 12 | 14 Apr 2001 |
| Rotherham |
Last Meetings (Bath scores first)
| 14 Apr 2001 | 68-12 | Clifton Lane |
| 26 Nov 2000 | 42 - 19 | The Rec |