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Cheeseman Hat-Trick Keeps Bath On Track
By Glen Leat
April 19 2008
The Bath players showed their true grit after playing two tough games in four days and holding off a determined last gasp effort from Worcester Warriors to snatch the game. Three tries from Tom Cheeseman gave Bath an important 20-23 victory to ensure an exciting finish to the season.

Bath got off to a great start, carrying on from where they left off in the first half against Leicester on Tuesday. The visitors held on to possession for the whole of the first five minutes and Lee Mears almost scored his second try in two games after seven minutes but Sam Tuitupoa dived under the ball to prevent the try. However Tom Cheeseman scored two plays later as the home team ran out of defenders. Barkley missed the conversion.

Bath continued to dominate possession from the restart and put Worcester under constant pressure but the home side finally had something to cheer about with a massive penalty from Shane Draham to make the score 3-5.

Worcester then shook Bath with a try following a run from a five metre scrum in their twenty-two which ended with Miles Benjamin scoring. The missed conversion made the score 8-5.

Cheeseman scored his second try after Mears and Lipman broke away from the defenders before feeding the Bath youngster. The conversion was again missed to make the score 8-10. Kicking was bound to be difficult for both sides given the blustery conditions. Shane Draham had another penalty kick but this time the conditions got the better of him.

Moments later Olly Barkly chased upfield and hoofed the ball towards the Worcester line as he ran out of puff. Fortunately for the home side Delport was able to clear his line before Matt Banahan reached the ball. With nine minutes left of the half an Olly Barkley penalty stretched the lead to five points.

With moments left on the clock Chris Goodman was penalised for shoulder charging Marcel Garvey on half-way and Shane Draham had a shot at goal but missed to make the half-time score 8-13.

The second half start saw David Barnes replacing Duncan Bell. A fine Barkley penalty stretched the Bath lead to 8-16. Benjamin scored his second try of the game after breaking a series of tackles to once again threaten Bath's chances of keeping up with Glawster. The conversion was missed which left the score at 13-16.

Heavy rain started to fall just before the hour mark and started to impact on the handling of both sides. Shane Draham then scored by chipping the ball over the Bath defence and taking it to touch down. His conversion gave Worcester the lead at 20-16 with 18 minutes left.

Tom Cheeseman scored his third try with 12 minutes left to regain the lead after being set up by Andy Higgins. A great touchline conversion from Barkley took the score to 20-23.

With just two minutes left on the clock Worcester attacked the Bath line with everything they had and the Bath players spent the next four minutes defending their slender lead. With everyone holding their breath as the home side tried to win the game Bath finally turned over possession and the whistle blew for the end. Phew!

Worcester

20 - 23
(8 - 13)

Bath
Tries:
Benjamin 2, Drahm
 Tries:
Cheeseman 3
Penalties:
Drahm
 Penalties:
Barkley 2
 
Conversions:
Drahm
 Conversions:
Barkley

 

Worcester Warriors: 15. Thinus Delport   14. Marcel Garvey   13. Rico Gear   12. Sam Tuitupou   11. Miles Benjamin   10. Shane Drahm   9. Matt Powell   1. Tony Windo   2. Aleki Lutui   3. Tevita Taumoepeau   4. Greg Rawlinson   5. Craig Gillies   6. Drew Hickey   7. Pat Sanderson   8. Kai Horstmann  
Replacements: 16. Matt Mullan   17. Shaun Ruwers   18. Will Bowley   19. Tom Wood   20. Johnny Arr   21. Joe Carlisle   22. Chris Pennell  

 

Bath Rugby: 15. Joe Maddock   14. Andrew Higgins   13. Tom Cheeseman   12. Olly Barkley   11. Matthew Banahan   10. Butch James   9. Michael Claassens   1. Matt Stevens   2. Lee Mears   3. Duncan Bell   4. Steve Borthwick   5. Danny Grewcock   6. Chris Goodman   7. Michael Lipman   8. Daniel Browne  
Replacements: 16. Pieter Dixon   17. David Barnes   18. Peter Short   19. James Scaysbrook   20. Mike Baxter   21. Shaun Berne   22. Michael Stephenson  

Referee: Andrew Small

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