by Dylan James & Tom Young
TERRENTIAL rain didn’t stop the University of Bath from running riot as they put 29 points past University of South Wales.
It was a staggered start for both sides, as they struggled to make a break. USW had the majority of possession in the first 10 minutes, but lacked execution in the final third.
The 13th minute saw the first points of the game. A grubber kicked through along the right wing saw Bath winger Henry Davies collect and beat the USW 14 in a footrace to the right corner. However the Bath number 10 failed to score his conversion, and the score remained 5-0.
Bath capitalised on their lead in the 28th minute. Following a turnover, the Bath number 13 collected and raced along the left-hand side, and offloaded superbly to the winger who had the pace to beat the USW fullback to the try line. The Bath outside half scored the conversion to make it 12-0.
USW didn’t give up there and pressed on for points late in the first half. A magnificent solo sprint from deep in his own half from the USW centre ensured they went into halftime with points on the board. Unfortunately, the USW 15 was unable to execute the conversion so the score stayed 12-5.
The away side extended their lead from the tee two minutes after the restart. The visitors decided to kick at goal from a penalty awarded due to USW being offside in the ruck; their number 10 made no mistakes and stretched the advantage to ten points.
USW themselves had a chance to cut the deficit to one score from the tee. However, USW’s 10 dragged his kick wide of the upright.
The away side further extended their advantage on the hour mark. Their winger (20) was in acres of space on the left-hand side and was picked out by an inch-perfect kick from Bath’s 21 and dived over in the corner. The conversion from the touchline was successful. Bath led 22-5.
The conditions weren’t great for either side, with drop balls aplenty. However, with ten minutes to go Bath found themselves in again. They worked the ball expertly from right to left, with the ball ending in the hands of number 15 who spotted a gap in the line and drove over just left of the upright. Again, no mistake from the tee as the game ended USW 5-29 Bath.
