MATCH REPORT: Bath Rugby 27 Ospreys 10
Bath Rugby signed off their pre-season programme this evening with an impressive victory over Ospreys at The Rec.
Matt Banahan, Leroy Houston, Semesa Rokoduguni and Ollie Devoto all touched down as the hosts recovered from a 10-8 first-half deficit to triumph, with Ryan Bevington grabbing the Welshmen’s solitary try.
Bath dominated the forward battle but still found themselves behind at the break but a more expansive second-half showing allowed them to pull clear and will give them plenty of encouragement ahead of next Friday’s Aviva Premiership opener at Newcastle Falcons.
Fly-halves George Ford and Dan Biggar traded penalties in the first five minutes before the hosts were the first side to get a real sight of the tryline.
Jonathan Joseph sidestepped a couple of defenders before sending the ball along the line between Devoto and Rokoduguni. Joseph then popped up on the wing but the centre was bundled into touch as he stormed to the line.
Ospreys struggled to get out of their own 22, though, and when Bath got possession again they won their own lineout ten metres out. Houston orchestrated a powerful driving maul but referee Luke Pearce deemed the ball was knocked forward as Bath bundled over the whitewash.
The visitors were able to ease the pressure for a brief spell but when Bath next threatened midway through the half, Banahan grabbed the game’s first try.
Scrum-half Peter Stringer broke off a maul before the ball travelled to Ford and Kyle Eastmond. The England centre threw a long looping pass to Banahan and the wing was too strong for Tom Grabham as he powered over the line. Ford missed a tough conversion from out wide.
The visitors hit back on the half-hour mark with a sensational try, as the Bath defence could not live with the Welshman’s lightning passes.
Biggar started the move in his own half before flanker Sam Lewis sent a quick inside ball to Grabham. Although last man Ford got in a tackle, the wing was able to offload to prop Bevington, who darted over for an easy score.
Visiting kicker Biggar completed the job with the conversion and could have extended his side’s lead at the break but a long-range penalty dropped short with the last action of the half.
Bath got back in front five minutes after the restart following a sensational piece of footwork from Ford. The fly-half dropped his shoulder and wriggled between two tacklers and when he was hauled down just short of the line, Martin Roberts fed Houston to power over. Ford converted.
A brilliant break from Rokoduguni got Bath’s third try soon afterwards, with the winger darting up the middle of the pitch. The chance looked to be over when the ball was dropped out wide, but it was deemed to go backwards and Stuart Hooper rescued the situation.
The skipper took the ball into contact and Roberts fed Davey Wilson, who bulldozed a hole for Rokoduguni to dart through to score. Again Ford was on target for the extras.
The inevitable flurry of substitutions hindered the flow of the game as it entered its conclusion but there was still time for one more Bath try as Devoto finished off an impressive team attack from close range. Replacement kicker Tom Heathcote missed the conversion from out wide.
Ospreys threatened to have the final say as they produced a last-minute rally but Bath’s defence held firm to record an impressive second-half shut-out.
BATH RUGBY: Devoto (Watson 61), Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond (Devoto 66), Banahan (Biggs 61), Ford (Heathcote 66), Stringer (Roberts 41 (Young 68)), James (Catt 41), Webber (Batty 52), Wilson (Perenise 52), Hooper (c) (Day 52), Attwood, Garvey, Mercer (Gilbert 52), Houston (Fa’osiliva 64).
Tries: Banahan, Houston, Rokoduguni, Devoto Conversions: Ford 2 Penalty: Ford
OSPREYS: R Jones, Grabham, John, Beck, Walker, Biggar, Tebaldi, Bevington, Baldwin, Arhip, Williams, King, Smith (c), Lewis, Allen. Replacements: Dwyer, D Jones, Rees, Evans, R Jones, Baker, Davies, Issacs, Morgan, Spratt, Hibbard, Ellis, Cole.
Try: Bevington Conversion: Biggar Penalty: Biggar
Referee: Luke Pearce
Attendance: 5,727
Strong second-half showing helps Bath Rugby overcome Ospreys
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