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Bath Do Double Over Quins
By Glen Leat
December 16 2006
Bath produced a double victory over Harlequins with a 20-14 win in the European Challenge Cup to maintain their Pool table lead. However, despite topping the table, Bath spent much of the game on their back foot and could have easily conceded more than the late try conjured up by Andrew Mehrtens.

When Nick Abendanon ran in for Bath's opening try after a few moments one could have been forgiven for thinking that the home side were ready to unleash the hounds and rattle up a mighty score. However it was Harlequins who went on to create the majority of chances throughout the match and it was mainly due to strong defence and poor Quins' finishing which denied them a win. 

Harlequins carved out several clear try-scoring opportunities only to see themselves drop the ball, pass forward or generally take an option which gave the Bath defence help in keeping them out. No wonder Deano looked so frustrated on the Quins' bench as he could see his team was just one or two organised plays away from victory.

Picture courtesy Jules

Peter Short was sent to the sin bin half-way through the first 40 minutes but Harlequins couldn't take advantage and failed to score during the absence of the big Bath lock. Against the run of play Bath grabbed their second try just before half time when Shaun Berne finished off some quick thinking by Nick Walshe as he took a tap penalty in front of the Quins' posts rather than electing for a kick at goal. 

Whilst Walshe was still sluggish around the rucks, Shaun Berne tried to pick up the pace and made several "dipping shoulder" breaks to try and open up space for his centres Barkley and Fuimaono-Sapolu. However I found the first half to be generally sluggish and dull and the 40 minutes felt like 60 as the stop-start fayre on offer was unlikley to make anyone rush out and buy a 07/08 Season Ticket for Christmas.

Picture courtesy Jules

The second half saw Bath just add three more points to their total, with Harlequins again creating the majority of opportunities. It was therefore not surprising when the visitors scored their try just before the end of the game. Thankfully they were kept at bay until the end otherwise this score could have created a momentum to go on to take the game away from the home side.

Dave Ward came on in place of the injured replacement prop, Aaron Jarvis, and immediately dashed around the pitch like a puppy desperate to get hold of the ball. This meant the scrums had to be uncontested which removed much of the excitement from a less than exciting game.

Picture courtesy Jules

 

Bath

20 - 14
(17 - 3)

 Harlequins
Tries:
Abendanon, Berne		   Tries:
Williams
Pens:
Barkley 2		   Pens:
Jarvis 2, Mehrtens
Cons:
Barkley 2		  

BATH: 15. N Abendanon 14. J Maddock 13. E Fuimaono-Sapolu 12. O Barkley 11. T Cheeseman (Stephenson, 79) 10. S Berne (Malone, 79) 9. N Walshe 1. D Barnes 2. L Mears 3. L Ovens (Jarvis, 50; Ward, 60) 4. P Short (sin-bin: 22-33) 5. D Grewcock (Fidler, 77) 6. A Beattie 7. J Scaysbrook (Faamatuainu, 54) 8. I Feaunati (captain)

Replacements: 16. D Ward 17. A Jarvis 18. R Fidler 19. J Faamatuianu 20. P Travagli
21. M Stephenson 22. C Malone

HARLEQUINS: 15. M Brown 14. D Strettle 13. H Luscombe 12. S Abbott (Deane, 80+4) 11. T Williams 10. A Jarvis (Mehrtens, 73) 9. A Gomersall (So’oailo, 73) 1. C Jones 2. T Fuga (Richards, 80+2) 3. M Ross (Robson, 60) 4. O Kohn 5. S Miall 6. A Vos 7. P Volley (captain) 8. N Easter (Guest, 41)
 
Replacements: 16. J Richards 17. R Nebbett 18. G Robson 19. T Guest 20. S So’oailo 21. A Mehrtens 22. M Deane

Referee: Andrew MacPherson

 

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