Whilst the game itself was poor, the start of the "Keep Bath At The Rec" Campaign got off to a great start with support being voiced within the ground and around the City. The pubs were full of drinkers desperate for Bath to stay at the Rec and no doubt the landlords all supported this view. 

Local MP, Don Foster, was one of the first to attach his name to the campaign alongside players, officials and visiting supporters. Those of us who visit the Rec on a regular basis fully understand the importance of creating an enhanced arena but it is wonderful to hear opposing supporters saying how they would always attend the Bath game if it was the only away match they could go to. We now need to convince Bathonians who don't regularly attend Bath Rugby matches that the Bath Rugby plans are right for the City.

It is said we all have one book inside us, well I'd move this a stage further and suggest we've all got one campaign inside us. If you've never been a campaigner before can I suggest that this is the one for you. The development of a new arena, sympathetic to its surroundings has surely got to be better that the current hotchpotch of buildings.  If you think the West Strand looks shoddy from within the ground, walk along the river and see what looks like the back of a factory. Imagine how wonderful this could look if sympathetically redesigned for its surroundings!

Picture by Jules

Some people within the anti-campaign would have one believe that Bath Rugby wish to develop a concrete monstrosity the size of which would engulf the Rec and ruin this common recreational area for everyone else. This is simply not the case and I believe their view is based on a lack of knowledge of the plans and/or a general antipathy towards professional rugby . If Bath Rugby were not honest in their intentions for the Rec you can rest assured that the small army of volunteers working with Bob Calleja and Bath Rugby on this campaign would not be supportive. 

In various match reports in the past I've made reference to the beauty of the surroundings: the distant rolling green hills, the honey coloured buildings and the peacefulness of the setting, why would any of us want to see that destroyed? I've also made reference to the appalling facilities: prehistoric toilets, a clubhouse fit for an amateur outfit (with apologies to Combe Down , Culverhay RFCs etc) but falling short of what one should expect from (what should be) a blue chip sporting venue and the embarrassingly poor welcome we can offer visiting supporters. This has to change but the club need our support to make these changes.

Picture by Jules

So what about the game? Yawnnnnnn!!!

The first half was as boring as a 40 minute lecture on "Why Linoleum Is The Future Of The Floor Industry". It was like sitting at your Great Aunt's house on Boxing Day  nibbling on cucumber sandwiches when all your mates are at the pub getting lashed - it went on forever. 

Clearly all the players greased their hands before taking to the pitch to ensure they didn't allow the ball to stick to their mitts and they played the match in the centre of the pitch to ensure they didn't fall foul of that dreaded activity - scoring tries! How could a half of rugby be so bad? 

Last time I sat at The Rec I watched our lads score four tries against the Tigers, a team capable of playing some rugby. I've got a lot of respect for Worcester given what they've been through to get and stay in the top flight, but if they don't move on from their current style of spoiling rugby they're going to be relegated.

Picture by Jules

To my eyes individual players stood out. Nick A and Joe Maddock looked sparky in the backs and Zak Feau'nati looked willing to run for everything in the forwards. However there seems to be a lack of ball movement between forwards and and backs with play so sluggish at times I thought the players had nodded off with boredom (or was that me?). To see a lineout where nobody jumps and the ball bounces off a player's shoulder to set up a play is bizarre in the extreme and really summed up this match for me.

Ryan Davis tried to pick up the pace when he arrived and David Barnes always plays his heart out but the team(sic) looked like a bunch of skillful individuals who had just met after the summer break. The only place in which I've  seen more turnovers is at a bakers, and they've got jam in them so at least they're sweet!

Well I'm depressed now after watching this game - where's the beer (and lots of it)?

If you want a report of the game read here, I can't motivate myself to run through that pile of **** again, it's too depressing!

Referee: Ashley Rowden

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