Cardiff visited the Rec knowing that even if they beat Bath they also required Sale to beat Leicester to go through to the semi-finals of this ill-conceived Anglo-Welsh competition and this was about as likley as Gordon Brown sleeping peacefully this week-end without a care in the world. 

There was a time when the domestic Cup had some meaning but it's hard to take too seriously a competition which sees teams playing an odd number of home and away fixtures. Whilst I can tolerate the money spinning necessity of pool games in European rugby, in my view domestic Cups should be a simple knock-out format with all clubs risking the result in every encounter. 

The first half, as was the whole game, a closely fought contest with both sides doing remarkably well to keep control of the ball in greasy conditions. The scoring was restricted to two penalties apiece but both sides also had clear cut chances to score tries.

Bath had a great chance when Butch James once again showed the skill of his boot as he kicked against the grain to set up Joe Maddock, but unfortunately the fizzing Kiwi knocked the ball forward just before falling on it in the end zone. Shortly afterwards Jason Spice looked odds on to touch down following a series of Cardiff drives against the Bath line but he fumbled the ball after breaking the defence.

The second half saw both sides continuing to play attacking rugby but chances to score were few and far between. Both Barkley and Flanagan missed long penalty shots at goal but Cardiff finally took the lead through a penalty after Peter Short was binned for taking out Xavier Rush as he was odds on to collect an attacking pass from Spice.

Bath were always in the game thereafter but it was following a fumbled attack in the Cardiff twenty-two that a breakaway from Jamie Roberts and Tom James saw Robin Sowden-Taylor end the move with a very late try.

Despite losing our home record and coming bottom of this ludicrous competition's Group table, I wasn't too unhappy with our play given the conditions, the quality of the opposition and the fact we had nothing to play for. Once again Butch James looked a class act and Lorne Ward played well.

Referee: Nigel Owens

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS