The last time we played in a European Final against a French team we came away clutching a big gold Cup. Tears of joy flowed throughout the ranks of Bath fans as they watched their heroes lap the Bordeaux stadium following Bath's one point victory over Brive. Ten years is long enough to go without a trophy and we have to believe this is our year.

After what appeared to be a "dead season" with our near neighbours grabbing all the glory, suddenly Bath is the team that could walk away with some spoils this year - how great is that!

They always say that no one remembers losing semi-finalists and that is no doubt true. However we shouldn't so easily forget what an exciting match this proved to be: oh to have been a neutral, I could have enjoyed it so much more! Several times Bath tried to pull away but the home side just wouldn't let them slip their leash.

Picture courtesy Jules

Both sides played at a very fast pace for much of the game, which is probably why the game was so high scoring. However Bath looked most vulnerable when they slowed their game down and several times fell foul of the referee for being adjudged to have fumbled in dead-slow rucks when a quick spin to the backs could have provided more scores. But let's not be churlish. We won against a team in great form, defended like demons, showed great passion and commitment and, oh yes, scored four tries away from home. 

The game was very scrappy at the start and both teams struggled with their scrummaging, something Bath would encounter throughout the match, with Matt Stevens appearing to disappoint the referee on several occasions. Saracens scored first with a try from Rob Penny following a set move from a scrum. The infringement was awarded after Danny Grewcock had been penalised for knocking the ball forward despite the TV replay clearly showing he hadn't. This was the first of several "unusual" decisions by referee Owens. Mind you as many went in our favour as against us. Why Dickens' try was disallowed in the second half is still beyond my understanding.

Picture courtesy Jules

Bath's first genuine opportunity came after the try restart when Matt Stevens charged down a clearance kick from Glen Jackson on his twenty-two. Fortune didn't shine too often on Jackson in this game but on this occasion he was lucky enough to tidy up his error.

Bath opened their scoring account after Castaignède fumbled a well weighted clearance kick from Olly Barkley. From the resulting scrum Danny Grewcock drove to the line and Andy Beattie dived forward with the ball to score. Danny Grewcock followed up his major contribution to the first try with a score of his own just a few minutes later. Bath were now playing as though someone had lit their blue touch-paper, with backs and forwards literally fizzing the ball throughout the team and numerous phases of wonderful play ended when Grewcock's long arm snaked over the Saracen's goaline defence for a try.

Ten minutes later saw a try for David Bory when he intercepted a Jackson pass as the home side pressed hard towards the Bath line. With the score at 8-21 there was a real danger for Saracens that they were going to lose the game with just under an hour left to play. But Sarries are a tough team these days and Rob Penny scored his second try just two minutes after Bory had celebrated his. 

Picture courtesy Jules

A Jackson penalty drew the teams very close at 18-21 in readiness for half-time but Shaun Berne shook off the groping hands of his (almost) namesake "Mullet" Byrne as he ran through Thomas Castaignède to score Bath's fourth try after 39 minutes. Barkley's conversion made the half-time score 18-28, a score that didn't really reflect the strength of Saracens' play throughout the first 40 minutes.

The second half saw Bath score just one penalty through Olly Barkley but they set up a magnificent rear-guard defensive position which ensured victory. Saracens took the game by its scruff and attacked their visitors like attacking was due to go out of fashion the following day. Dan Scarborough scored two tries following lovely sweeping moves by the home backs and Kris Chesney thought he had scored as he crashed over the line only to find Lipman and Berne lying underneath his ball-carrying arms. Great defense!

Picture courtesy Jules

As mentioned earlier, Dicken then had his try attempt disallowed for an infringement not seen by anyone else and this could well have been the turning point which ensured it is a West Country rather than London team off to the final. If I was a Sarries supporter I'd be frustrated by this decision. Mind you, the first Dan Scarborough try came from a free-kick after Nick Walshe was penalised for scrum feeding. Scrum feeding, I ask you. Who doesn't? Also Mearsey was penalised for taking too long with a throw in when Bath were attacking.

With the score at 30-31, Shaun Berne tried to stretch the Bath lead to four points with a drop goal straight after the Bath restart following Scarborough's second try but his kick drifted wide. Saracens continued to press but with the clock ticking, Dan Scarborough muffed a Berne clearance to give Bath a lineout on half-way. From this play the Bath pack wound the clock down with a series of pick and drives and when the clock struck 80 minutes Shaun Berne grabbed the ball and kicked it in to the crowd. Bath had won. Fantastic.

To no-one's surprise Danny Grewcock was awarded Man of the Match status: the guy is a colossus.

Picture courtesy Jules

If this game proved anything to me it's that Bath look far more dangerous when they pick up speed and play like Ashton wanted. When reverting to the Connolly "up yer jumper" stuff they look vulnerable to the whims of referees and poor handling. Just because two of the Bath tries came from close quarters belies the fact that the close quarter stuff was set up by flowing moves.

Well done guys you've given us a day out at a Cup Final and we all enjoy that.

Picture courtesy Jules

Saracens 15. T Castaignède 14. D Scarbrough 13. K Sorrell 12. A Farrell 11. R Penney 10. G Jackson 9. N de Kock (Dickens, 41) 1. N Lloyd (Visagie, 80+8) 2. S Byrne (Cairns, 71) 3. C Visagie (Johnston, 48)  4. H Vyvyan 5. S Raiwalui (captain; Fullarton, 68) 6. K Chesney 7. R Hill (Seymour, 59) 8. B Skirving

Replacements: 16. M Cairns 17. C Johnston 18. I Fullarton 19. D Seymour 20. A Dickens
21. A Powell 22. T de Vedia

Bath: 15. J Maddock (Walker, 79) 14. T Cheeseman 13. E Fuimaono-Sapolu 12. O Barkley 11. D Bory 10. S Berne 9. N Walshe 1. D Barnes 2. L Mears (Dixon, 70) 3. M Stevens 4. S Borthwick (captain) 5. D Grewcock 6. A Beattie (Short, 67) 7. M Lipman 8. I Feaunati (Goodman, 70)
     
Replacements: 16. P Dixon 17. L Ovens 18. P Short 19. C Goodman 20. A Williams 21. M Stephenson 22. C Walker

Referee: Nigel Owens

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