Biggest BUCS Super Rugby victory sees 13-try Bath get back to winning ways and take ownership of Challenge Cup
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV recorded their biggest victory of the BUCS Super Rugby era as they scored 13 tries during an impressive 77-14 victory in Cardiff.
The Bath Building Society-sponsored visitors welcomed back a host of Bath Rugby Academy players, including seven of the 11 current students who represented Bath in last week’s PREM Rugby Cup derby against Gloucester – James Linegar, Charlie Griffin, Tyler Offiah, Austin Emens, Max Pearce, Connor Treacey and Jack Woods.
Cardiff went into the match with confidence high, having inflicted a first defeat of the season on league leaders Exeter last week, while Bath were looking to bounce back from narrow losses to Loughborough and Durham.
The visitors did so in style, sealing the four-try bonus point with just 20 minutes on the clock as Offiah, Pearce, Treacey and Isaac Sprenger all touched down. Further scores followed from Offiah, Will Keylock, Griffin and a penalty try which, along with three conversions from Linegar, gave Bath a 48-0 lead at half-time.
There was no easing off after the break as tries from Iwan Coyle and replacement Freddy Rossigneux, the first converted by Linegar, stretched the gap to 60 points with an hour played.
Cardiff showed good resilience to pull a try back and they also scored a converted effort from the last play of the game but they conceded further tries in between to Austin Emens, Rossigneux and Coyle, Linegar adding the extras to one.
The result means that Bath, who are also supported by Team Bath partners Rengen, have now taken ownership of the BUCS Super Rugby Challenge Cup, a trophy they will retain until they are beaten on their home 3G Pitch at the Team Bath Sports Training Village.
First to challenge Bath for the cup are Swansea, who visit the STV on Wednesday 26th November. Kick-off is 6.30pm and admission is free.
Match stats
Cardiff 1st XV: 1 Reegan Jones, 2 Isaac Buck, 3 Oliver Cengarle Desforges, 4 Ollie Close, 5 Jake Campbell, 6 James Smith, 7 Morgan Francis, 8 Max Truby; 9 Finn Charles, 10 Tomi Booth, 11 Jack Thomas, 12 Josh Pascoal-Reynolds, 13 Mason Archer, 14 Ollie Das, 15 Charlie Brook. Replacements: 16 Dylan Line, 17 Josh Twigg, 18 Matt Towndrow, 19 Alex Salah, 20 Angus Munro, 21 Harrison James, 22 Gryff Watkins, 23 Lloyd McEwan-Peters.
Tries: Pascoal-Reynolds, Salah.
Conversions: James 2.
University of Bath men’s 1st XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Isaac Sprenger, 5 Rory McKnight, 6 Connor Treacey (cc), 7 Iwan Coyle, 8 Will Keylock; 9 Isaac Mears, 10 James Linegar, 11 Tyler Offiah, 12 Luc Anfield, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Austin Emens, 15 Jack Woods. Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Ollie Critchley, 19 Tom Hilton, 20 Evan Jones, 21 Roman Andrews, 22 Jamie Howick, 23 Freddy Rossigneux.
Tries: Offiah 2, Pearce, Treacey, Sprenger, Keylock, Griffin, penalty, Coyle 2, Rossigneux 2, Emens.
Conversions: Linegar 6.
