Final score Bath Rugby 26 London Irish 33, a clean fast open game in good conditions. It doesn't get much better than this, a chance to celebrate in beautiful Bath thanks to Mike Catt.

Match report for Bath v London Irish Saturday 18th February

Irish started very brightly and gained an early penalty. The attacking intent was shown and we kicked short for a line out. After 4 phases we gained another penalty, and again kicked for touch. The pressure at the resulting line out paid off and we were awarded a 5m scrum 15 metres in from touch. Leguizamon peeled off the back of the solid shove, and barged his way past the defender on the blind side. No mistaking the try scorer this week, after the Gloucester confusion. Lynn and Steve banged their bodhrans next to me, and we were able to identify 2 distinct pockets of Irish support in the Helphire by their cheering and flag waving. Flutey missed the conversion by a mile, which was greeted with some derision from the home support. 0-5 to Irish after 5 minutes.

The next passages of play were mostly Bath, and they were awarded a penalty in the centre but quite a distance out. It fell short, which was not unexpected by the Bath fans around mostly though Bath were keeping the ball in hand and playing the sort of running rugby that thrills the spectator. This was reminiscent of the style of the 90's when Bath had their name on every trophy, classic Bath attacking style. Yet they have the will to play it, but not always skills to execute it. Two attacks failed because the put the ball behind the on-rushing defence, but the chip through was too strong and the ball went dead. It was a great idea, so there is intelligence on the Bath training ground, and only a little more skill in the execution could have resulted in tries.

Catt and Flutey were kicking long and midfield and Bath were running it back, eventually we were pinged for offside on our 22. Malone popped that one over, straight through the middle, and Catt took a moment to draw referee Sean Davey's attention to something, with gestures.3-5

From an Irish advantage Flutey made a good quick break. We gained another penalty for a deliberate knock down. Again we kicked for the corner, ignoring 3 points pressing for 7. Good to see such positive actions and more than making up for the dull turgid game that we were subjected to last weekend. In fact, as the line out formed I took a chance to look around the packed ground and the surrounding hills. The buildings of creamy Bath stone, and the unseasonably warm sunshine, it was a good place to be. To my left was a blue eyed blonde in a Bath shirt, effortlessly pretty. Hmmm this place is like St Tropez with cider ! From the line out Magne made a break for the line and was wrapped up and turned by captain Borthwick. I've put St in my notes, so I presume this was some Bath wags gag, Saint Steve.

Bath relieved the pressure and kicked long into our half where was took a quick line out, and the ball found Topsy Ojo in midfield, in broken play. What happened next was pure bliss for any Irish supporter. He accelerated, beat his first man, side-stepped, accelerated burst through a tackle, changed direction, burst another tackle, then sped away through to the line. Wow. It was stunning. It brings tears of joy to my eyes to write it. The best try of the day, look out for it on any seasonal highlights package. An individual try to rival many of the great tries scored at that ground down the years. You can't coach that kind of talent any more than you can put lighting in a bottle. As good as the Everitt-Catt-Flutey try we scored at Newcastle, but individual brilliance this time. Just what he threatened to do against Newcastle last week as he returned from his 4 try England performance with confidence. Naturally we converted the try easily so we now led 3-12 with 14 minutes of the half remaining.

Bath again renewed their efforts using their attacking running passing style, yet lost the ball forward in contact. Generally the pattern was thus :- Irish hoofed the ball forward, Bath ran it back. One Irish line out was stolen, and Bath varied their running attack by kicking high for Topsy to collect. Under pressure he cleared to touch, but not too far. Delon conceded a penalty for a high tackle on Malone, which he duly kicked. 6-12 with 6 mins remaining and Gustard came on as a blood replacement for Casey.

Catt and Hodgson appeared to be plotting something again, as they arranged the Irish formation, they may well have spotted some Bath attacking characteristic or weakness and looked to exploit it. Two intelligent rugby players for sure.

Flutey managed to get the ball away with a kick, but was touched in flight, almost charged down for the 3rd time. We'd got little distance to the kick and Bath had a line out 30m from our line. Sometimes games hinge on the slightest incidents and this was one of those. Bath ran it, and made a break in midfield via an inside pass. They were through, looked set to score, but Catt managed a clamping tackle from behind and the ball spilled forward in contact with the ground. So the try was saved. From the possession gained Delon got a quick pass from Flutey and sprinted away to the line. Bath had clearly started celebrating early, had no cover, were out of position. The quick brain of Flutey had spotted the gap and the quick feet of Delon did the rest, finished with his trademark swan dive under the posts. He was unopposed for the final 50metres. Easily converted. 6-19 and with 2 minutes left to the first half, Casey returns patched up.

I was considering just surviving till half time, but Bath were intent on all out attack again. This time their ambition proved their undoing. In midfield Bath had possession and were trying to get the ball out to the wing. The Irish defence moved up quickly, and rather than be monstered by Leguizamon or Magne, the Bath player passed blindly. He'd received the ball and got rid of it in one movement, and when it works you say quick hands. When it doesn't work and is intercepted by Topsy Ojo, you say it's a try. Off he sprinted for the line and put it down under the posts. Converted naturally enough for the final action of the period. 6-26 with a try bonus point for us inside the first half, away from home. I think that it hinged on the try saving tackle by Catt, quick thinking by Flutey, the speed of Delon, and the mazy running of a confident Topsy Ojo. Bath have a brilliant coach in Brian Ashton, and played some scintillating rugby in the first half, and we counter punched. But Boy, did we counter punch. Like Muhammed Ali on the ropes for 8 rounds v George Foreman. The Rope-a-Dope fight. We got full value in those last 5 minutes of the first half. The scoreline reflects how you have to hang in there, weather the attack and take your chances. Baths attack had misfired and they paid a heavy price, better concentration is needed for them. We have some dangerous players.

For those who saw the France v Ireland match last weekend you'll recall that France went from being 43-10 up until Magne went off on 58mins, until they closed the game out 43-31. France definitely took their foot of the gas, and Ireland sensed that weakness and got back in to the match. London Irish were not guilty of that on Saturday, they had held the all-out attack of Bath and taken every opportunity handed to them. The 6-26 half time scoreline did not reflect any Irish dominance of territory or possession, indeed after our initial burst we seemed to only have the ball to score with it.

Second Half.

Willis came on as a substitute for Hodgson. Bath began like demons and gained an attacking line out which they formed for very quickly. You'd expect a catch and drive, and the famous Bath shove. Naïve defending means they put the ball back on the blind side from a short throw and they scored by No8 Gareth Delve in the corner. We seem to be still mentally back in the dressing room.11-26 Malone executed a magnificent conversion from the touchline, and the home crowd were making some noise 13-26 Sailosi spilled the ball forward and Bath kick through. We look to have no one at home in defence until Catt covers and puts the ball in to touch. From the line out Bath got a maul going, spinning it one way then the other. I don't come all the way to Bath to not see a Bath maul, and the crowd were at full volume as the forwards showed us their power. It proved to be unstoppable, and the hooker Lee Mears scored, again it's out wide.18-26, the conversion is narrowly unsuccessful this time, and there are 32 minutes to go. Game on.

Bath gain a penalty for us not rolling away in the tackle as we try to slow down the pace. It's bang in front and is duly kicked by Malone. Throughout Bath either recycled quickly or avoided contact, the ball was in constant motion. There was generally little infringement at rucks, and we enjoyed a quick open match. Thanks to both sides and the referee. 21-26 and Leguizamon left the field to be replaced by Murphy.

Bath seemed to have even more possession this half yet they managed to waste a huge overlap by putting the ball behind the man into touch. Gustard replaced Casey, this must have caused some disruption and we overthrew a line out. It's caught in the air, but outside the 15m. I thought we'd done this a couple of times recently against Newcastle, Gloucester and Wasps, and here Sean Davey penalised us. We are looking pretty jittery, and the "game of two halves" jokes are looking prophetic.

The next Bath attack by the massed backs resulted in a touchdown in the corner, but it's not given. The crowds' wild cheers fizzle out. As this happened down at the far end, I can only assume it was for a blatant forward pass. Everytime, ref. I also had my hand over my eyes muttering "Good Grief" so I missed the refs' signal. Ah, the power of prayer. In an unrelated incident Paice came on for Coetzee at hooker.

We now seemed to gain some confidence as the fresh legs get the Irish attack going. We'd had a close scare and now turn on some power. Bath are penalised at a line out, Magne takes a quick tap and heads for the posts. The ball is laid back to Flutey directly in front, but his drop goal attempt screws wide, and there are now 15 minutes left, still 21-26.

On the next Irish attack, Catt chips the ball through for Topsy to chase, but the ball finds touch inside the Bath 22. Soon we've gained a scrum on the Bath 5metre line. With 12 minutes left Dawson comes on for Magne. The scrum wheels and collapses. A critical call from the referee, and the decision goes in favour of Irish. Did it turn through 90, then collapse by Irish, thus giving a Bath put in ? Sean Davey probably owed us one following last seasons Worcester performance, and all those 2nd half penalties at Newcastle. As it was he was right there, on the spot, and he probably saw it correctly. The scrum was reset, and this time we got quick ball. Through the hands quickly two thirds of the way across the pitch, Mike Catt straightened the line, held up the drift defence and created space for the rest of the line. Catt stepped inside changing the angle, slowed the cover as he drew him in, then threw out a long pass to miss a man. A sublime piece of skill, and the ball got to Sailosi who scored in the corner. He's big, strong and quick with good hands, and the whole team came over to congratulate him on what will be the first of many tries. It was a team effort
though from the boys in the scrum, all along the line, but Catt opened the door for Sailosi to stride through. It still needed some finishing. 21-31 and Flutey lands a critical conversion from way out wide in a respectful silence. A try like that deserved a conversion. 21-33 with 8 minutes left, and steadfast Mike Horak replaces Delon Armitage.

I speculated with the surrounding Bath fans that there was still plenty of rugby left, they needed 2 converted tries to win, or could miss one kick and draw. 3 points to each side looked possible soon. They had played well enough, showing enterprise in attack, that to get no points seemed harsh. Soon enough Bath got in to losing bonus point territory with a fine individual try by 13 Alex Crockett. From another of those Bath mauls the ball came out quick and clean, he did a beautiful step inside, and skipped through the tackle of our despairing cover. 26-33 but with only 2 minutes left. Neal Hatley replaced a tiring but heroic Faan Rautenbach.

You would have expected a nervous final two minutes with all results still possible but the conversion was surprisingly missed, and London Irish had enough of the territory and possession to run down the clock.

Post-match Craic.

Initially the Bath crowd left, while the Irish fans remained. The Irish players came back on and applauded the travelling fans in sections L and B of the Helphire stand who had been making noise and singing throughout the match. They were magnificent. Brian and Toby came on the field, and eventually the Bath players disconsolately trooped on. They had played some great rugby and most have thrown more passes than you would normally see in a month at Madejski, just for a bonus point. It can be cruel, but that cliché about being far too good to go down is certainly true here. They are misfiring and made some critical mistakes which we punished through the speed of Topsy and Delon. Players from both sides hung around and signed many, many autographs on various papers and objects. After a pint, in a glass I may add, in the excellent clubhouse bar, we returned around the corner to the Boater and drank a few more. The mood Sadly, all too soon we had to leave at 5:45 for the coach, leaving the train crowd to continue till the cows came home. The coach dropped me off at the Swan, and I have all my possessions and some photographs record my presence. However I have no memory of the work that went in to collecting the current happy hangover. I know from earlier in the day that Jenny serves a fine pint of Guinness, so I assume I had some of that. I have a picture of little Emma who kept us all entertained on the coach, she's a happy child, full of charm.

My Man of the Match ? Well Topsy scored 2 tries, one was a magnificent solo effort, full of confidence. Mike Catt for his vision in attack and his try saving tackle which turned the match. It would be hard to separate them. In fact there were great contributions from many players, Sailosi looked far happier than against Gloucester, I look forward to further improvement, and Delon played a mature game again. Magne and Leguizamon were powerful and mobile. I think Flutey has played better, but still showed many classy touches he has tremendous vision, but could have been charged down.

Finally I should just praise Bath, the town, the ground and the fans. We probably saw the best of it in warm sunshine, as many couples were visiting for a post Valentines break. A Panathanaikos fan, from Greece was the most exotic of many I spoke to. Pre-match in the Boaters a guy from Radio Bristol was interviewing a local rugby celebrity, and we exchanged some banter. I'm told that the Helphire stand, as in Help Hire, can be a different experience in the rain when a Blue poncho protects you from the rain. So we were fortunate to see fast open rugby in warm sunshine. Our branch of Irish support squeezed in the uncovered standing terracing behind the posts and had a friendly chat with the Bath fans. That's not a euphemism they were very friendly and we all shook hands after the match. We'd witnessed a great match. I would have liked to have brought the beautiful blonde "Miss Bath Rugby" back home with me, but 5 points is a good second best to that.

Bath Rugby: 15. Michael Stephenson 14. Frikkie Welsh 13. Alex Crockett 12. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu 11. David Bory 10. Chris Malone
9. Nick Walshe 1. Matt Stevens 2. Lee Mears 3. Duncan Bell 4. Steve Borthwick 5. Danny Grewcock 6. Andy Beattie 7. Michael
Lipman 8. Gareth Delve

Replacements: 16. Pieter Dixon 17. Taufa'ao Filise 18. James Hudson
19. Peter Short 20. Andy Williams 21. Andy Dunne 22. Joe Maddock


London Irish: 15. Delon Armitage 14. Topsy Ojo 13. Nils Mordt 12. Mike Catt 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau 10. Riki Flutey 9. Paul Hodgson
1. Neal Hatley 2. Danie Coetzee 3. Faan Rautenbach 4. Bob Casey 5. Nick Kennedy 6. Kieran Roche 7. Olivier Magne 8. Juan Manuel Leguizamon

Replacements: 16. Michael Collins 17. David Paice 18. Paul Gustard
19. Kieron Dawson 20. Phil Murphy 21. Ben Willis 22. Michael
Horak

Referee: Sean Davey
Touch Judges: Peter Huckle & Lloyd Jackson

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