Second-half shutout condemns Bath to first home defeat of BUCS Super Rugby season
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV saw their unbeaten home run come to an end following a disappointing second-half display against BUCS Super Rugby league leaders Loughborough on Wednesday.
An eagerly-anticipated showdown between two in-form teams was evenly-matched during a first half which saw both teams score four tries apiece, with just a couple of successful conversions separating the sides.
Bath touched down twice during the first 10 minutes, through Charlie Griffin and Kit Evans, and though Loughborough cut the gap with a converted try of their own, the hosts restored their 10-point advantage when co-captain Max Pearce went over and Will Roue added the extras.
Loughborough flipped the game on its head, though, as they ran in three tries in 12 minutes, all converted to turn a 17-7 deficit into a 28-17 advantage.
Back came Bath in the closing seconds of the half and a try from Austin Emens – making his first appearance in BUCS Super Rugby this season following two Premiership outings for Bath Rugby – plus conversion from Roue cut Loughborough’s interval lead to 28-24.
There was to be no comeback for the hosts in the second half, however, as they were shut out by a strong Loughborough side who went on to win 47-24.
It was only a second defeat of the season for Bath, sponsored by Bath Building Society and Rengen, who go into the Christmas break sitting third in the table with a game in hand. That is their away fixture at Nottingham, postponed in November, which has been rearranged for Sunday 12th January (1pm).
They then welcome Cardiff Met to the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 22nd January (6.30pm), admission is free.
Match stats
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Max Mayor, 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 6 Harry Breeze (cc), 7 Will Keylock, 8 George Doel; 9 Ieuan Davies, 10 Will Roue, 11 Tyler Offiah, 12 Kit Evans, 13 James Short, 14 Charlie Griffin, 15 Austin Emens. Replacements: 16 Yujian Zou, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Henry Mountford, 19 Tom Hilton, 20 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 21 Archie Friend, 22 Raff Weston, 23 Freddy Rossigneux.
Tries: Griffin, Evans, Pearce, Emens.
Conversions: Roue 2.
Loughborough starting XV: 1 Oran Murphy, 2 Seb Smith, 3 Mink Scharink, 4 Owain Evans (c), 5 Jake Bausor, 6 Yande Nkonge, 7 Dan Eckersley, 8 Theo Mayell; 9 Sam Bryan, 10 Morgan Meredith, 11 Jack Bracken, 12 Jacob Cusick, 13 Chris Preen, 14 Fin Doyle, 15 Elliot Gourlay. Replacements: 16 Joe Plunkett, 17 Alex O’Driscoll, 18 Max Bignell, 19 Archie Hunter, 20 Ed Harvey, 21 Rhys Hulse, 22 Alex Wainwright, 23 Jack Kinder.
Tries: Eckersley, Gourlay (2), Meredith, Smith, Nkonge.
Conversions: Meredith 6.
Picture credit: Bob Bradford.
