By Conor Johnson
Bath knew going into their game against Bristol that a win would put them in prime position for a top two spot ahead of their winner takes all game against Leicester next weekend if the tigers were to pick up a win against Exeter on Sunday.
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After a pretty uneventful opening 10 minutes, with the majority of play being done in the middle of the park. A Bath penalty allowed Ben Spencer to kick to the corner and put the pressure on the Bears to see if the scars from Northampton were still there, they thought they had the first try through Henry Arundell but the pass from Donoghue was forward but the away side began strong.
The Bears defense would be breached on the 20-minute mark, multiple bruising phases, especially Ted Hill putting Ellis Genge on the deck. Bristol knew they had a free play after a penalty but didn’t need it as Ollie Lawrence slid through to put the visitors in front. Donoghue was able to slot over the easy conversion in front of the posts.
Ravouvou got caught in two minds whether to catch the ball or let it run out the end zone but ended up touching it, and knocking it on in the goal area, giving Bristol a five-metre scrum. But his blushes would be spared for now as from the resulting scrum resulted in Bristol clearing their lines.
The following stages followed the ominous pattern for Bristol but again would be frustrated as Bath went off their feet and the hosts could breathe another sigh of relief.
Bristol would knock it on and spectators around Ashton gate could anticipate what was going to happen next, a neat dummy from Spencer down the right wing, leaving Ravouvou behind and with Pepper on his shoulder, the open-side flanker had an easy run in to give Bath their second score of the day. Donoghue was unable to make the conversion
The hosts, who hadn’t looked likely of worrying the champions, but a five-metre tap and go would allow them to manufacture a smart drill with captain Fitz Harding going over to put the Bears on the board. McGinty would kick his first points since the opening day of the season with the conversion.
As Bristol thought they had got to half time only down by five points, consecutive penalties allowed Bath to get a tap and go which would result in their third through du Toit getting over the line. Donoghue would add the extra two points.
Half Time: Bristol Bears 7-17 Bath
The hosts started the second half the stronger, they looked like scoring before an intervention from Henry Arundell, which would be deemed to be illegal as it was a deliberate knock-on preventing Rees Zammit from going through in the corner. The hosts would be rewarded with a penalty try, and the winger would spend 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Bristol began to grow as the more dominant team in the game being down to 14 and thought they had at least gotten level after Rees-Zammit was unable to get the ball down in the try area after good pressure from Bayliss.
The story of Bristol’s night continued to pan out, with handling errors hampering their progress when it looks like they’re about to build ahead of steam. Bath thought to have had their bonus point clinching try just before the hour mark through Alfie Barbeary after good hustle from himself and Frost chasing down Thacker, but the prop had been deemed to have knocked it on after the Bristol player had lost it himself.
With tackles flying about, which is understandable with it being a derby and fiercely contested one, even referee Carl Dickson couldn’t get out the way of Ellis Genge’s marauding run.
Bristol began to puncture holes in the Bath defence, trying the ‘bomb squad’ with every phase. They wouldn’t burst through if it wasn’t for a miraculous tackle from Ted Hill preventing Harry Randall. But they weren’t to be denied a second time as Max Lahiff on his 200th premiership appearance was able to skid under multiple Bath defenders and reach for the line to put Bristol level again. McGinty would give the hosts the lead after 66 minutes.
The game could’ve potentially fully swung Bristol’s way as Sam Underhill was under scrutiny after a high tackle in the breakdown but was deemed that himself and Thacker were on the same level as when the hit came in from the Bath player. As time ticked down teams surrounding the playoff picture, such as Saracens and Exeter were holding their breath hoping that Bristol wouldn’t get another try to get their fourth and close the gap on them.
After nearly 20 phases and being inside their own 22, Bath had the chance to end Bath’s playoff hopes with Carreras lining up a 55-metre penalty, but the full back’s kick would not have the distance or direction to trouble the Bristol upright.
The hosts knew that a bonus point would aid their playoff ambitions but would’ve had to have gone 80 plus metres so they decided to kick the ball into touch limiting the risk of losing what they’ve got and hope other teams around the league do them a favour.
Full Time: Bristol Bears 21-19 Bath
Bristol Bears:
Tries: Harding 34’, Penalty Try 43 ‘, Lahiff 65
Conversions: McGinty 35’, 66’
Penalties:
Yellow cards:
Red cards:
Starting XV: 15. Noah Heward 14. Louis Rees-Zammit 13. Matias Moroni 12. Bengals Janse van Rensburg 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou 10. AJ McGinty 9. Harry Randall 1. Ellis avenge 2. Harry Thacker 3. George Kloska 4. James Dun 5. Joe Batley 6. Joe Owen 7. Fitz Harding 8. Santiago Grondona
Replacements: 16. Tomas Gwilliam 17. Jake Woolmore (n/a) 18. Max Lahiff 19. Jimmy Halliwell 20. George Taylor 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Tom Jordan 23. Jack Bates
Bath:
Tries: Lawrence 20’, Pepper 28’, du Toit 40+1
Conversions: Donoghue 21’,40+2’,
Penalties:
Yellow cards: Arundell
Red cards:
Starting XV: 15. Santi Carreras 14. Joe Cokanasiga 13. Ollie Lawrence 12. Max Ojomoh 11. Henry Arundell 10. Ciaran Donoghue 9. Ben Spencer 1. Beno Obano 2. Kepueli Tuipulotu 3. Thomas du Toit 4. Ted Hill 5. Charlie Ewels 6. Ethan Staddon 7. Guy Pepper 8. Sam Underhill
Replacements: 16. Dan Frost 17. Francois van Wyk 18. Vilikesa Sela. 19. Ewan Richards 20. Josh Bayliss 21. Tom Carr- Smith 22. Cameron Redpath 23. Alfie Barbeary
PLAYER RATINGS
BRISTOL BEARS: 15. Noah Heward (6) 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (7) 13. Matias Moroni (6) 12. Bengals Janse van Rensburg (7) 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (7) 10. AJ McGinty (6) 9. Harry Randall (6) 1. Ellis Genge (7) 2. Harry Thacker (6) 3. George Kloska (n/a) 4. James Dun (5) 5. Joe Batley (6) 6. Joe Owen (6) 7. Fitz Harding (8) 8. Santiago Grondona (n/a)
Replacements: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (n/a) 17. Jake Woolmore (n/a) 18. Max Lahiff (7) 19. Jimmy Halliwell (n/a) 20. George Taylor (5) 21. Kieran Marmion (n/a) 22. Tom Jordan (6) 23. Jack Bates (n/a)
BATH: 15. Santi Carreras (6) 14. Joe Cokanasiga (6) 13. Ollie Lawrence (7) 12. Max Ojomoh (6) 11. Henry Arundell (5) 10. Ciaran Donoghue (7) 9. Ben Spencer (7) 1. Beno Obano (6) 2. Kepueli Tuipulotu (7) 3. Thomas du Toit (6) 4. Ted Hill (6) 5. Charlie Ewels (5) 6. Ethan Staddon (7) 7. Guy Pepper (6) 8. Sam Underhill (6)
Replacements: 16. Dan Frost (5) 17. Francois van Wyk (5) 18. Vilikesa Sela (n/a) 19. Ewan Richards (5) 20. Josh Bayliss (7) 21. Tom Carr- Smith (n/a) 22. Cameron Redpath (n/a) 23. Alfie Barbeary (6)
