Bath dig deep to secure success in Swansea and guarantee a top-four finish in BUCS Super Rugby table
A determined defensive display ensured the University of Bath men’s 1st XV left Swansea with a hard-earned 28-14 victory which guaranteed them a top-four finish in the 2024-25 BUCS Super Rugby league table.
Bath rallied from conceding an early converted try to score three of their own through Iwan Coyle (2) and George Doel to lead 21-7 at the interval.
Swansea cut the deficit to seven points with another converted try 10 minutes into the second half but the visitors stood strong to ensure their lead remained intact before wrapping up the win – and the bonus point – when captain Max Pearce (pictured) touched down six minutes from time.
Will Roue added his fourth conversion of the evening to seal a victory which moves third-placed Bath nine points ahead of Durham and 15 clear of fifth-placed Exeter with just two league games remaining.
Bath, who are sponsored by Team Bath partners Bath Building Society and Rengen, are back in Wales next Wednesday (5th March) for their final away match of the league season against Cardiff (6pm).
They then wrap up their league campaign against Nottingham at the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 12th March. Kick-off is 6.30pm and admission is free.
Match stats
Swansea starting XV: 1 Max Marshall, 2 Joe Rees (c), 3 Tom Furtado Mills, 4 Jake Roberts, 5 Hugo Morley, 6 Sam Gwynn Carroll, 7 Tom Boggemann, 8 Charlie Herdman; 9 Kai Inker, 10 Steff Jac Jones, 11 Elliot Smith, 12 Joe Webb, 13 Oscar Stewart, 14 Joe Hill, 15 Will Hammonds. Replacements: 16 Finn Thomas, 17 Tom Zoogah, 18 Morgan James, 19 Freddie Welbury, 20 Will Plessis, 21 Ben Thomas, 22 Ieuan Bissell, 23 Tim Davies.
Tries: Rees 2.
Conversions: Jones 2.
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Max Mayor, 5 Jack Bennett, 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 Jamie Howick, 15 Alex Clayton. Replacements: 16 Yujian Zou, 17 Oban Baird, 18 Jai Sahi, 19 Jimmi McNally, 20 Connor Treacey (cc), 21 Archie Friend, 22 Raff Weston, 23 Will Keylock.
Tries: Coyle (2), Doel, Pearce.
Conversions: Roue 4.
