Bath Rugby destroy local rivals Bristol in one-sided pre-season clash

MATCH REPORT: BATH RUGBY 69 BRISTOL 5

Bath Rugby warmed up for the new Aviva Premiership campaign by destroying local rivals Bristol in a one-sided pre-season friendly at The Rec this afternoon, running in 11 tries to the visitors’ one.

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   Semesa Rokoduguni touches down for Bath Rugby against Bristol. PICTURE: Clare Green

   
   


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   Tom Biggs dives over for Bath Rugby against Bristol. PICTURE: Clare Green

   
   

Mat Gilbert and Semesa Rokoduguni ran in two touchdowns apiece, while Charlie Beech, Tom Dunn, Matt Banahan, Kyle Eastmond, Tom Biggs, Davey Wilson and a penalty try completed the hosts’ count. Fautua Otto was Bristol’s solitary scorer.

Gary Gold’s side had expected a tough contest against a Bristol side who will be expecting to push for promotion from the Championship this season but the gulf in class between the two sides quickly became clear.

 

The home side got themselves in front after just eight minutes when Bristol infringed in their own half. Ollie Devoto opted to kick to the corner and when captain Stuart Hooper grabbed the lineout, Bath’s driving maul powered over the whitewash and Gilbert claimed the try. Devoto’s conversion attempt from out wide drifted just off target.

Bristol tried to respond and had several phases on the hosts’ tryline but lacked a cutting edge to find a way through. When Bath were able to clear their lines they grabbed a second try, with Gilbert again touching down.

Samoan Sevens specialist Alafoti Fao’siliva powered his way into Bristol territory before Rokoduguni pounced as the ball went loose. The Fijian back fed Hooper, who sent Gilbert into space and the flanker charged 20 metres to the line. Scrum-half Martin Roberts took over kicking duties but was again unsuccessful.

The visitors looked like getting on the scoreboard midway through the half when Ryan Edwards charged down Anthony Watson’s kick ten metres from the Bath line, but the ball just drifted into touch ahead of the racing Otto.

Bath pulled further ahead just before the half-hour mark when Beech ran in a third try. The hosts won their own lineout deep in Bristol territory and powered over the whitewash, with prop Beech the man to ground the ball. Devoto added the extras.

Bristol refused to roll over and got themselves on the scoreboard with an excellent team try. Bath’s defence was exposed by a lighting move and when Ben Mosses threw a long pass out wide to Otto, the centre powered through Watson’s challenge and in for a score. Adrian Jarvis missed the conversion.

The home side had the final word of the half, however, with a lineout again producing the score. Will Spencer took the catch on the right-hand touchline, and scrum-half Roberts moved his troops across the pitch. Devoto went close but hooker Dunn was on hand to complete the score. Devoto was unable to convert with the final kick of the half.

Bath ran riot in the second half and less than a minute after Banahan had produced a try-saving tackle on Sammy Speight, the giant back had scored himself. The hosts broke and Eastmond picked out Banahan with a clever grubber kick for an easy try. Ford split the posts with the conversation, the first of six successful kicks for the debutant.

Rokoduguni and Eastmond then showed the Bristol defence a clean pair of heels as the pair ran in a try apiece in quick time, before Bath had an eighth score when the visitors illegally hauled down a drive on their own line.

More lacklustre Bristol defending gifted Bath three further scores in the final ten minutes. Rokoduguni latched onto a high Ford kick to touch down, Jonathan Joseph’s offload sent Biggs clear and Wilson barged his way over from close range to complete a fine day for the home side.

BATH RUGBY – First half: Watson, Rokoduguni, Banahan, Fao’siliva, Biggs, Devoto, Roberts, Beech, Batty, Perenise, Hooper (c), Spencer, Sisi, Gilbert, Skuse. Replacements: Dunn, Catt, Palma-Newport, Garvey, Koster, Cook, Eastmond, Joseph.

Second half: Watson, Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond, Banahan, Ford, Stringer (c), Catt, Webber, Wilson, Attwood, Day, Garvey, Mercer, Houston. Replacements: Batty, Beech, Perenise, Skuse, Gilbert, Cook, Devoto, Biggs.

Tries: Gilbert 2, Rokoduguni 2, Beech, Dunn, Banahan, Eastmond, Penalty, Biggs, Wilson. Conversions: Devoto 1, Ford 6.

BRISTOL – First half: Watkins, Amesbury, Otto, Mosses, Edwards, Jarvis, Grindal (c), Lilley, Hayes, Cortes, Glynn, Sorenson, Mama, Merriman, Skirving. Replacements: Lawrence, Hall, Douglas, Townson, Tipuna, Roberts, Short.

Second half: Mosses, Watkins, Short, Eves, Speight, Roberts, Tipuna, Douglas, Lawrence, Hall, Sambucetti, Townson, Grieve, Mama, Eadie.

Try: Otto

Referee: David Rose

Bath Rugby destroy local rivals Bristol in one-sided pre-season clash