Eight tries and eight conversions make it eight wins in a row for BUCS Super Rugby title-chasers Bath
Eight tries, all converted by James Beverley, secured an eighth straight success for the University of Bath men’s 1st XV as they maintained their BUCS Super Rugby title push with a 56-26 home win over Cardiff.
The hosts, sponsored by Bath Building Society, started their current winning run with a 77-14 victory in November’s reverse fixture and produced another clinical performance on the 3G Pitch at the Team Bath Sports Training Village to stay within a point of table-topping Loughborough.
Victory was essentially wrapped up in the first half as Louis Bouverie, Jack Harrison, Max Pearce, Harry Walker and Rocky Prowse all touched down. Beverley, the last-kick hero against Exeter the previous week, added all five conversions as Bath went into the break with a 35-12 lead.
Henry Mountford’s converted try quickly extended that advantage before Cardiff cut the gap to 42-26 with two converted tries of their own in the space of seven minutes.
The comeback was nipped in the bud just after the hour as Harrison, fresh from making his Bath Rugby senior debut in their PREM Rugby Cup victory over Sale, grabbed his second try of the evening,
Beverley added the extras and completed a perfect evening from the kicking tee when he converted replacement Ollie Critchley’s try two minutes from time.
It completed another successful defence on home turf of the BUCS Challenge Shield for Bath, who are also supported by Rengen. They now have a rest week before the final title push begins on Wednesday 25th February with a trip to Swansea.
Their final home match of the season is the potentially decisive showdown against Loughborough on Wednesday 4th March. Kick-off is 6.30pm and admission is free.
Match stats
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Alfie Griffin, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Henry Mountford, 4 Tom Hilton, 5 Isaac Sprenger, 6 Fred Kempton, 7 Iwan Coyle (cc), 8 Will Keylock; 9 Isaac Mears, 10 James Beverley, 11 Rocky Prowse, 12 Oscar Bennett, 13 Jack Harrison, 14 Harry Walker, 15 Louis Bouverie. Replacements: 16 Evan Gallagher, 17 Ollie Critchley, 18 David Bennett, 19 Albert Dmitriev, 20 Evan Jones, 21 Roman Andrews, 22 Jamie Howick, 23 Ollie Read.
Tries: Bouverie, Harrison 2, Pearce, Walker, Prowse, Mountford, Critchley.
Conversions: Beverley 8.
Cardiff starting XV: 1 Josh Twigg, 2 Dylan Line, 3 Oliver Desforges Cengalre, 4 Dan Bassett, 5 Ollie Close, 6 Max Truby, 7 Owen Popple, 8 Billy Moxey (c); 9 Luke Rowley, 10 Tomi Booth, 11 Jack Thomas, 12 Lloyd McEwan-Peters, 13 Mason Archer, 14 Elis Bird, 15 Ellis Davies. Replacements: 16 Isaac Buck, 17 Matt Towndrow, 18 Lewis Jones, 19 Tom Purchas, 20 James Smith, 21 Angus Bruce, 22 Josh Pascoal-Reynolds, 23 Charlie Brook.
Tries: Line, Bird, Thomas, Archer.
