Debutant at the double as Bath return with well-earned bonus point from tough BUCS Super Rugby trip to Loughborough
Rocky Prowse marked his BUCS Super Rugby debut with two tries as the University of Bath men’s 1st XV secured a well-earned bonus point on their visit to old rivals Loughborough.
With a number of regular starters away on PREM Rugby Cup duty for their clubs, the Bath Building Society-sponsored visitors made several changes to their match-day 23 for a clash between the teams sitting second and third in the table.
Bath made a strong start, co-captain Max Pearce scoring the opening try after two minutes, and while Loughborough hit back with two tries of their own – one converted – the sides went into half-time level at 12-12 after Will Roue added the extras to winger Prowse’s first touchdown of the evening.
The second half began equally well matched, with a converted Loughborough try being quickly cancelled out by a Iwan Coyle try converted by Luc Anfield.
Two tries in five minutes just after the hour, both converted, proved decisive as Loughborough finally put some distance between the teams. They also slotted over a penalty to make it 36-19 with 10 minutes to go.
Bath were determined to head home with something to show for their efforts and secured the four-try bonus point when Prowse went over again, Anfield again adding the extras, before Loughborough had the final word in the dying seconds to wrap up a 43-26 victory.
Despite the setback, Bath – who are also supported by Rengen – sit third in the table going into a mini break. They resume their campaign on Wednesday 12th November against fourth-placed Durham on the 3G Pitch at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, kick-off is 6.30pm and admission is free.
Match stats
Loughborough starting XV: 1 Oran Murphy, 2 Sebastian Easterby-Gray, 3 Max Bignell, 4 Owain Evans (c), 5 Jack Murphy, 6 Tayo Adegbemile, 7 Joe Denman, 8 Yande Nkonge; 9 Sam Bryan, 10 Ben Taylor, 11 Kit Temperley, 12 Jacob Cusick, 13 Archie Kean, 14 Ben Turpin, 15 Elliot Gourlay. Replacements: 16 Ralfie Willott, 17 Eric Nixon Castillo, 18 Connor van Lille, 19 Keanu Coetsee, 20 Ed Harvey, 21 Aidan Pugh, 22 Luke Davidson, 23 Tom Riman.
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Rory McKnight, 5 Fred Kempton, 6 Alex Ridgway, 7 Iwan Coyle, 8 Connor Treacey (cc); 9 Isaac Mears, 10 Will Roue, 11 Freddy Rossigneux, 12 Luc Anfield, 13 Jamie Howick, 14 Rocky Prowse, 15 Austin Emens. Replacements: 16 Evan Gallagher, 17 Archie McNicol, 18 Diamond Ayiehfor, 19 Isaac Sprenger, 20 Evan Jones, 21 Roman Andrews, 22 Will Keylock, 23 Louis Bouverie.
Tries: Pearce, Prowse 2, Doyle.
Conversions: Roue, Anfield 2.
Pictured top: Bath try scorers (from left) Max Pearce, Rocky Prowse and Iwan Coyle.
