Blue & Gold seek festive flourish as they visit Leeds Beckett in final BUCS Super Rugby match of 2018
Team Bath men’s 1st XV will be looking to end 2018 on a winning note when they visit Leeds Beckett in their final BUCS Super Rugby match of the year this afternoon (2pm).
The Fulkers-sponsored Blue & Gold, who are also supported by MJ Church, make the journey to Yorkshire on the back of three successive league victories with a 30-10 win at Loughborough sandwiched between two notable results against Hartpury.
Leeds Beckett go into the game on the back of their best result of the season, a 44-3 thumping of Loughborough at Carnegie last week.
Hugo Stiles’ last-minute penalty gave Team Bath a 29-27 victory when the teams met at The Rec in a dramatic Anniversary Game earlier in the season.
Bath Rugby Academy player Ethan Hutt makes his first start for the Blue & Gold at full-back, while Miles Gilbert and Brandon Bellamin also come into the backs.
Adam Thresher returns in the second row and Josh Lilly starts at blindside flanker, with John Smith and Murray Bellis named among the replacements for the first time this season.
Today’s team
Team Bath starting XV: 15 Ethan Hutt, 14 Finn Murphy, 13 Alex Nisbett, 12 Miles Gilbert, 11 Brandon Bellamin, 10 Alex Burrage, 9 Ed Rimmer; 1 George Cave, 2 James Hadfield, 3 Austin Hay, 4 Jordan Martin, 5 Adam Thresher, 6 Josh Lilly, 7 Chris Barry, 8 James Catlin. Replacements: 16 Sam Ngeng, 17 Josh Rasor, 18 Simone Ngeng, 19 John Smith, 20 Cameron Keys, 21 Callum Barrett, 22 Murray Bellis.
