This game was summed up by comparing the performances of the two Number 10s. Ryan Davis had a nightmare whereas his opposite number Nicky Robinson, Glawster's recent recruit from Cardiff was superb, running the show for his new team. 

Robinson wrapped up his great debut with Glawster's third try, a second interception leading to a touchdown. In the first half Ryan Davis  failed with three standard penalty kicks and this not only forced Bath to abandon any more shots at goal but it also rocked the confidence of the young outside-half. Things got so desperate with the kicking role that Matt Carraro was asked to try and convert Hape's late try from the touchline. I was surprised that Nicky Little wasn't brought on at half-time given that Davis looked "shot" by the end of the first forty minutes.

But before we heap the troubles of this performance at the feet of Davis it has to be said that the majority of the Bath team looked out of sorts. The pack was overrun by the Glaws eight throughout the match, giving Bath's new skipper, Michael Claassens, little room for manoeuvre and consequently putting pressure on his backline. Nick Abendanon had one good run at the start of the second half but wasn't prepared to back his running skills too often, instead opting for the cursed hoof up-field, and his colleagues from 11 to 14 weren't much better. Julian Salvi played his heart out but conceded too many penalties and I hardly remember either Grewcock or Skirving getting involved in much of the open play.

Both sides started nervously, making mistakes in the opening eight minutes. Davis had his first chance to score after just 40 seconds, when Glawster were caught offside, but he kicked to the right of the posts. Seven minutes later Joe Maddock juggled with a high ball on the edge of his twenty-two only to tip it in to the path of a offside colleague and Robinson showed Davis how easy it is to kick a penalty in front of the posts. A further seven minutes later young Davis matched his first kick with another slice to the right of the Glawster upright and his body language suggested this was going to be a long day for us all.

Super try-scorer, James Simpson-Daniel, opened his account after 14 minutes when Ryan Davis lost possession in midfield. A series of home side attacks, including a deft chip forward by Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, finallly resulted in the try. Fuimaono-Sapolu played as good a game as I ever saw him deliver in our colours, which added to the frustration of the day. A muffed restart saw Glawster given another chance to immediately get back at their opponents. Bath's usually strong defence was looking fragile and Simpson-Daniel crossed the goal line just before the half-hour mark but fortunately was prevented from scoring. From the ensuing scrum Tom Voyce had a chance to score but he failed to hang on to the ball as Bath were stretched across the pitch.

By this time Glawster were dictating the play of both sides, forcing Bath to hurry their game and kick possession away too often. As the clock ticked around to 35 minutes Bath finally managed to gain an attacking option and Ryan Davis was given the opportunity to slot home his third attempt at goal. He missed, this time hooking the ball to the left of the posts.

Andy Hazell was yellow carded just before half time for cynically stamping on the leg of a prone Bath player. Despite being down to 14 men for ten minutes, Glawster didn't lose control of the game.

Bath played slightly better in the second half but their tactics were determined by a need to keep pressing and, as time moved on, they had to start taking risks. James Simpson-Daniel scored his second try on 49 minutes after Julian Salvi had charged his way through to the Glawster twenty-two to set up a great attacking platform but Claassens popped out a poor pass and Simpson-Daniel plucked the ball from the air and headed 70 yards back down-field to score.

Bath tried to make things happen by bringing on all of their substitutions and this did create more attacking opportunities however the single Hape try was cancelled out by Robinson's interception of Cheeseman's wayward pass.

This was depressing viewing and certainly not what we expected. But it's just one game, away from home and against Glawster. Next week at the Rec will be the real test of what we can expect this season. I'm sure Steve Meehan will make some changes to the starting line up - or at least I hope he does!

Referee: Andrew Small

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