Frustrating finish to an excellent season as Bath’s BUCS Super Rugby Championships hopes are dashed by Cardiff Met fightback
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV saw their BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship campaign end in frustrating fashion as Cardiff Met fought back to win 35-28 in Wednesday’s quarter-final at the Team Bath Sports Training Village.
Bath looked set to build on their best-ever league season when they opened up a 21-5 lead inside the opening 30 minutes. Number 8 George Doel marked his 25th appearance for the 1sts by burrowing over from close range, then winger Tyler Offiah produced two outstanding finishes – diving over for his first (pictured top) and slicing through the Met defence for his second after an excellent offload from Raff Weston.
Will Roue kicked all three conversions but while Bath were on top, Met were also playing some expansive rugby and they twice stretched the home defence to score in the corners through Vikas Meijer and Jack Statton.
A key moment came just before half-time when Bath were applying pressure on the Met line, looking for a fourth try, when a big hit from Josh Carrington led to the ball coming loose and Meijer scooped it up before running the length of the pitch and diving over. Replays suggested the ball had not been grounded but the try was given and Carrington’s conversion cut Bath’s half-time lead to 21-17.
The hosts again started the second half on the front foot and scrum-half Ieuan Davies – another player making his 25th appearance – sniped under the posts in the 46th minute after extensive pressure on the Met line. Roue was again on target with the conversion.
Back came Met again, though, and Toby Lock dived over in the corner for their fourth try. Steff Crimp then kicked a penalty before the visitors forged ahead for the first time just after the hour mark when flanker Will Owen forced his way over the line.
Crimp’s conversion and another penalty soon after meant Bath needed a converted try to draw level. They thought they had touched down under the posts in the 74th minute when prop Claudius Wheeler powered his over but the referee ruled the try out for a knock-on.
Bath kept battling but Met’s defence stood strong in the closing minutes to secure their place in the semi-finals.
Despite the disappointment, it has still been an excellent season for Bath – supported by Team Bath partners Bath Building Society and Rengen – who finished third in the league table, winning 13 and drawing one of their 18 matches.
They also had eight players represent their countries in the U20 Six Nations, while a host of current 1st XV players helped Bath Rugby win the Premiership Rugby Cup.
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, 7 Iwan Coyle, 8 George Doel; 9 leuan Davies, 10 Will Roue, 11 Tom Hughes, 12 Kit Evans, 13 Ludo Kolade, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Raff Weston. Replacements: 16 Oban Baird, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Henry Mountford, 19 Connor Treacey (cc), 20 Will Keylock, 21 Archie Friend, 22 Freddy Rossigneux, 23 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi.
Tries: Doel, Offiah 2, Davies.
Conversions: Roue 4.
Cardiff Met starting XV: 1 Ben Murphy (c), 2 George Merritt, 3 Alex Wakefield, 4 Gethyn Cannon, 5 Oli Smith, 6 Liam Jones, 7 Will Owen, 8 Ardal Yallop; 9 Alex Terry, 10 Steff Crimp, 11 Henry Kirwan, 12 Chris Johnson, 13 Jack Statton, 14 Josh Carrington, 15 Vikas Meijer. Replacements: 16 Lewys Walsh, 17 Max Surry, 18 Liam Newstead, 19 Olly Wiseman, 20 Josh Hart, 21 Harry Rice, 22 Toby Lock, 23 Isaac Marsh.
Tries: Meijer 2, Statton, Lock, Owen.
Conversions: Crimp 2.
Penalties: Crimp 2.
