Strong Bath Team Ready For Cup Clash With Leeds

Barnes in For Flats?
By Glen Leat
February 26 2004

Just when it looked as though John Connolly would be able to pick from a full squad for the Powergen Cup clash at Leeds, Andrew Higgins is deemed unfit and our two first choice props, Flatman and Bell are doubtful with a decision to be made on Friday.

Fortunately for Bath our international players have returned for this game and suddenly we move from a position of scratching a team together to wondering who to leave out! It is likely that regulars Crockett, Malone and Fidler will step down whilst the best Kevin Maggs will manage is a place on the bench. 

Even if Flats and Belly are unfit to play, Bath have two great replacements in David Barnes and Matt Stevens. Having seen Bell out cold last week I'm amazed he is even up for consideration: surely he's required to serve a 3 week lay-off as he would if suffering concussion? Flatman limped off the Rec very gingerly after just 20 minutes last week-end and the club have confirmed he has not trained at all this week which makes his place look doubtful.

There is a great incentive in winning this game because the prize is a semi-final against two struggling teams, Sale or Saracens. 

Despite the return of the "Bath Stars" Leeds will fancy their chances given the closeness of last week's game but my belief is Bath will be too strong for the home side and win by a clear 15 points.

picture supplied by CW Sports Photo Agency

 See some other pictures of Bath-v-Leeds at the Rec last week

Possible Bath Team

15 Iain Balshaw
14 Wylie Human
13 Mike Tindall
12 Olly Barkley
11 Simon Danielli
10 Mike Catt
9 Martyn Wood
1 David Flatman (David Barnes)
2 Jonathan Humphreys
3 Duncan Bell (Matt Stevens)
4 Danny Grewcock
5 Steve Borthwick
6 Andy Beattie
7 Michael Lipman
8 Zak Feaunati

Bookies Odds

Click here to remind yourself about the last match against Leeds.

Click on to the Leeds site for their perspective on things.