No Bonus For Bath As They Outplay London Irish

By Glen Leat
November 28 2004

Bath won their 4th game out of 4 during the "international window", beating Mike Catt's London Irish 27-15, showing the strength in depth needed to be in the European Zone of the league. After a dodgy start to the season Bath find themselves in 4th spot, two points behind Wasps, at the mid-point.

The final score of this game flattered a sluggish London Irish team who found themselves on the back foot for the majority of the game. It was only a sloppy piece of Bath play at the end of the first half, which allowed Justin Bishop to intercept on the half-way line and run in for a score and Bath's unwillingness at the end of the second half to kick out of defence that made the score look respectable for the visitors. The Bath coaches must have been going apoplectic during the extra 8 minutes played by referee, David Rose, as their players tried to run the ball once too often out of defence which resulted in a very late score for Ryan Strudwick.

This was one game in which the Bath line-out machine needed an extra oiling as they often struggled on their own throw and made no impression on the Irish throws. Despite this lack of possession in possibly the most important area of set plays, Bath grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck after 20 minutes when Chris Malone hoofed the ball towards the clouds, Mark Mapletoft fluffed his catch and Olly Barkley was on hand to chip and chase the ball over the try line.

Despite some line-out misfires from the home side it was from this set piece that Bath scored their second try. James Hudson, took the catch and fed Rob Fidler who passed to Nick Walshe who set Zak Feaunati free for a try under the posts. By this stage London Irish were shell shocked: it wasn't quite what the Australian Rugby League side had done to their Great Britain counterparts last night but two rapid body punches by the men in blue, black and white steered them towards victory.

However joy was soon turned to sorrow for Bath as Zac Feaunati received an injury to his eye socket which could keep him sidelined for up to 8 weeks. Gareth Delve replaced the popular Number 8, who seemed reluctant to leave the field, and maintained Bath's powerful forward play though there was a lack of sharp edged finishing throughout the second half.

Alex Crockett scored a third for Bath and played well all afternoon. There are some on this site who don't appreciate what this young lad brings to our team. I thought his play today exemplified exactly why the likes of Jack Rowell and John Connolly think he deserves a place in our back line. In addition to his score, Crockett chased and harried the Irish ball carriers, tackled like a demon and was on hand at all the breakdowns to provide support to his colleagues. I thought the boy had a smashing game and provided an ideal foil to Barkley's rapier.

Bath lost the second half 3-7 and they have to be disappointed that they couldn't turn a monster amount of possession in to a scoring bonus point. Even when London Irish were down to 14 men, when Roland Reid was binned towards the end of the game, Bath couldn't cross the whitewash and this will form a major part of the team's game review next week.

Mike Catt did what Mike Catt does. He caught a lot of ball in defence, made a few long miss passes, a few aimless kicks up-field but was generally ineffective. Chris Malone and Olly Barkley again played well together and proved to the Bath coaches that they were right with their choice of players for this season. I thought Nick Walshe's passes were a bit ponderous from the rucks and scrums which gave Malone little time for his play but if Walshe can sharpen this area of play I think he will do well for us. Walshe certainly provides Martyn Wood with the much needed opposition for the starting Number 9 shirt.

I thought the ref had a fair game today.

Finally, I've come to the conclusion that Bath need a new medico in their ranks, a urology consultant! It took just 15 minutes of this game for the first of the steady stream(sic) of the toilet brigade to hot foot it to the bogs. I know that some fat people like to have their stomachs stapled to help with their diets, it appears to me that some of our fellow supporters have had their bladders stapled and the mere hint of a sip of beer is sufficient to make them "want to go"!

I think too many people mistake the Rec for a pub. Yes it's nice to have a drink whilst watching the game but not if you can't hold your liquid until half or full time. Most people around me were up and down like a slapper's drawers such was the draw of the toilet for the small band of mini-bladdered supporters. It's no coincidence that those with the weakest of bladders are the greatest consumers of beer during a game. A word of advice lads, "If you can't hold it, don't drink it!" 

This issue started as a bit of a laugh (you might even call it "light relief") earlier in the season but I'm now getting really fed up with my game being spoiled by the constant toing and froing. It'll not be long before I get my camera out and snap those worst offenders and I'll post up a "wall of shame".

I'm thinking of suggesting to Bob Calleja that to qualify for a season ticket next year everyone has to have a signed certificate from their doctor confirming they can sit for more than 40 minutes without the need for a bog-trot.

Back to Europe next week, have a good trip those who are going.

Bath: Perry, Welsh, Crockett, Barkley, Daniel, Malone, Walshe, Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Hudson, Fidler, Beattie, Lipman, Fea'unati
Replacements: Mears, Kok, Scaysbrook, Delve, Wood, Davey, Maddock.

London Irish: Horak; Bishop, Appleford, Mapletoft, Staniforth; Catt, Hodgson; Wheatley, Paice, Hardwick; Kennedy, Casey; Gustard, Danaher, Murphy
Replacements: Halsey, Van der Walt, Reid, Strudwick, Mordt, Edwards, Everitt.

Referee: David Rose