By Glen Leat
September 24 2011

The Bath forwards struggled throughout this match as their team gave away the first local derby bragging rights of the season following a disappointing 23-6 result at Kingsholm. Yet Bath had chances to snatch a win in the final quarter but failed with head, hands and feet.

Bath enjoyed all the territory during the opening 10 minutes of the match with Glawster not moving the ball outside their half and it initially appeared this was going to be a good day for the Blue, Black and White - it wasn't.

Bath came close to scoring a try after 14 minutes when Abendanon attacked the Glaws line from a couple of yards, desperately trying to off-load to Biggs who was well placed, but strong defence stopped this opportunity and a few more phases later Bath lost out to a dropped catch.

Twenty minutes in to the game Glawster were penalised for going in to the side of a ruck deep in their twenty-two and despite playing several moments of advantage, it was Sam Vesty who opened the scoring with a penalty kick (0-3). Five minutes later Vesty doubled the score after Ryan Cauldwell was impeded at a lineout and it was a fortunate effort when the ball bounced off the crossbar (0-6).

Glaws opened their account with a Taylor penalty, after their pack easily pushed their way through the Bath forwards to the Bath line before spinning the ball wide to win the free kick at goal for a Bath infringement (3-6). Right on half-time Bath's pack continued last week's travails and creaked when put under pressure and this weakness gave Glawster their opening try by Dawidiuk, resulting from a penalty-lineout catch and driving maul following a dropped scrum. Despite Bath enjoying some 80% of first half territory they left the field 10-6 down.

Glawster extended their lead within the opening minute of the second half from another Taylor penalty after being penalised at a ruck after they tried to run out the restart from their own half (13-6). Taylor had another shot a goal a few moments later from 55 metres - fortunately he missed.

Dan Hipkiss saved Bath on their own line, after Glaws again dominated  the visitors pack at a lineout, as he did what several of his larger colleagues failed to do: take control of the ball, to enable Matt Carraro to clear the danger. This lack of control by Bath gave the Glawster players increasing confidence which meant, for the rest of the game, Bath were going backwards more than forwards.

On the hour mark Tim Taylor stretched the lead to 16-6 with another successful penalty kick and was then immediately replaced by Freddie Burns: Bath heads were starting to drop both on and off the field. With 15 minutes left Sam Vesty missed a relatively easy penalty kick (Bath's first scoring opportunity for almost 35 minutes) and was immediately replaced by 19-year old, Tom Heathcote, placing enormous pressure on the Academy player. Heathcote was soon asked to kick a 48 metre penalty but failed with both distance and direction - what pressure!

With less than five minutes left on the clock, Dave Attwood looked like he had snatched a late try for Bath but lost control as he was about to ground for a score - aghhhh! Just as the Shed was in full voice, Vainikolo was sin binned for a high tackle on Tom Heathcote. Jack Cuthbert joined the "missers" club as he slotted the penalty attempt wide of the posts.

Glawster settled things when Heathcote knocked on inside the home twenty-two as Bath pressed for the losing bonus point. The home defence fly-hacked the ball up-field and Sharples successfully chased to score his team's second try. Freddie Burns' conversion made the final score 23-6.

No doubt the coaches will learn something from this performance!

Gloucester: Morgan; Sharples, May, Vainikolo, Voyce; Taylor, Runciman; Wood, Dawidiuk, Harden; James, Savage; Buxton (capt), Cox, Deacon.

Replacements: Cortese, Murphy, Chistolini, Lyons, Evans, Robson, Burns, Trinder.

Bath: Abendanon; Cuthbert, Carraro, Hipkiss, Biggs; Vesty, Claassens (capt); Catt, Batty, Bell; Attwood, Caldwell; Fearns, Mercer, Skirving.

Replacements: Lilley, Beech, Palma-Newport, Spencer, Beattie, McMillan, Heathcote, Scott.

Glawster 23-v- (Sorry) Bath 6

Discussion started by BathRugbyEre.co.uk , 24/09/2011 16:54

BathRugbyEre.co.uk
24/09/2011 16:54

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:29:16:01:09 by Glen The Ed.

Reply Quote Report

Glen The Ed
24/09/2011 16:58

Got to be a record - got that posted within 10 minutes of the final whistle!! :-)







Chatting about Bath on Twitter? Use the #BRERE hashtag so we can find each other!

Reply Quote Report

Bathbadger
24/09/2011 16:59

thats what i call a fast match write up, shame it wasn't a better result!

Cheers,

Rich

Reply Quote Report

Glen The Ed
24/09/2011 17:09

So hacked off I just wanted to get it out of the way. We could have won but wouldn't have deserved it.







Chatting about Bath on Twitter? Use the #BRERE hashtag so we can find each other!

Reply Quote Report

abendanon-anon-anon
24/09/2011 20:20

Just back from Castel Grim - first 20 mins was excellent - we had them on the ropes - we just didn't polish them off. The shed was quiet, Bath supporters vocal - excellent. But the more we tried the harder it seemed to get and I thnk Glaws started regaining their confidence.
Their rolling maul was our downfall - we just didn't have the muscle to stop it - painful to watch. The try at half time was deserved, but overall we definitley shaded the half.
2dnd half - 2 penalties for Glaws and the heads seem to drop. We kept going from side to side and like last year no plan B.
We lacked muscle in the scrum - lineout was average - we didn't really challenge theirs.
I am so disappointed I thought we had them this time.

Reply Quote Report

WembdonJumper
24/09/2011 20:56

Lacked the authority of Danny in the pack and a Captain who should at least try to motivate his team.

Having watched this fixture many times I don't think either side was near the level of past teams.

Reply Quote Report

gloucesterwatcher
24/09/2011 22:37

Was at the game in the shed in possession of my new Bath shirt.
Very disappointed with the team performance.
After all the Bath TV build up, Attwood was invisible, blowing hard after 30 minutes, he cannot be fit, should have been taken off. Fearns and Caldwell best two forwards
Pack passive, backs too lateral, kicking poor; to say Tommy Heathcote is to blame is ridiculous.
Ordinary game, pragmatic no way, Glos shed persons were saying around me how did they win that game (Charlie Sharples strike excepted)
That was a poor effort from all at Farleigh.

Reply Quote Report

callmeMrTibbs
25/09/2011 09:17

Geech mystified, reports The Independent.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:25:09:19:45 by callmeMrTibbs.

Reply Quote Report

DA Bath
25/09/2011 10:32

Quote:

gloucesterwatcher
Was at the game in the shed in possession of my new Bath shirt.
Very disappointed with the team performance.
After all the Bath TV build up, Attwood was invisible, blowing hard after 30 minutes, he cannot be fit, should have been taken off. Fearns and Caldwell best two forwards
Pack passive, backs too lateral, kicking poor; to say Tommy Heathcote is to blame is ridiculous.
Ordinary game, pragmatic no way, Glos shed persons were saying around me how did they win that game (Charlie Sharples strike excepted)
That was a poor effort from all at Farleigh.

Bradshaw and Sheridan thought he put in a massive performance and was the pick of the Bath forwards.

I heard the cheer on the radio when Vainakolo was yellow carded for a high tackle on Heathcote, newspaper report makes reference to this too. Was it as distasteful as it sounded?

Reply Quote Report

gloucesterwatcher
25/09/2011 11:00

DA Bath
Ref Attwood: Bradshaw and Sherri can have their own opinion but show me the stats of line out takes(steals),carries,gain line breaks and tackles and I will believe them.
My basic comment still stands, I do not think Attwood is fit yet, he is a better player than he showed today.

Lesley's tackle on Tommy was high and dangerous, he should have got more than a yellow and a ice pack for his eye.It was not a dirty game prior to that.
If we did have a plan for the game their 10 and 12 channels should have been our entry points.

Reply Quote Report

PhilHallFan
25/09/2011 11:11

The Independent reports that Vainakolo was "cheered to the rafters" as he left the pitch. Not good.

Reply Quote Report

abendanon-anon-anon
25/09/2011 11:31

Quote:

PhilHallFan
The Independent reports that Vainakolo was "cheered to the rafters" as he left the pitch. Not good.

Yep - that was how it sounded to me, almost saying 'great job - worth the card'

Reply Quote Report

nick holder
26/09/2011 08:53

Was there and have waited until today to post to see if the w/e has changed my view.
It hasn't and we were RUBBISH.

Reply Quote Report

Lebowski
26/09/2011 09:06

Sorry guys, but a couple of you are being way too precious. Firstly, having watched Les's tackle on the TV last night I would seriously question if it was a yellow at all - certainly not malicious. I've seen far worse go unpunished. Secondly, the cheer was not applauding thuggery, or even a card - it needs to be viewed in the context of the situation and the match. Glos were defending for their lives - we were on the ropes at that stage. Everyone around me (with our one collective eye) felt the card was very harsh. That was also the reason for the (IMO ignorant) booing of the subsequent penalty attempt.

Reply Quote Report

rugby john
26/09/2011 11:04

I was there. It was clear in the first 35 minutes we had talent in abundance to beat Glaws soundly. What we did not have was the spirit and the will to win, Glaws had that. We were beaten by a more determined side.

Reply Quote Report

Widcombe boy
26/09/2011 11:17

There too. We looked excellent for the 1st 20 mins. But second game running scrum went back (same as last year up there. Nick Wood definately has Belly on toast.) Think the scrum penalties and Glaws supeb use of the driving maul won the game.

Went up there with some confidence for this one, but fair play the Gloucester pride in the shirt(at home) won it for them.

Reply Quote Report

Bathovalballer
26/09/2011 11:18

If what you say is true Rugby John we are indeed in trouble if the players think they only have to turn up to win! That is totally inexcusable and something which all the coaches should find out the main culprits and get rid of them.

Rugby is not a game for prima donas and nor is Bath Rugby! Sheer effort and spirit is a great leveller and overcame our so called 'class' it seems.

I would rather have people in Bath shirts who really want it and are prepared to die for the cause and fight for every blade of grass on the pitch than so called stars. Remember the days of Humprheys leading the guys in the trenches at the coal face when we had a very average side but we were topping the league!

Reply Quote Report

Lebowski
26/09/2011 12:02

Nick Wood has most THs he comes up against on toast! If he played for Leicester he would be a regular in the England set up. Carl Hayman said he regarded Woody as the best scrummaging LH in The Premiership. At a recent 'meet the coaches' evening either Hogg or Redpath (can't remember which) said the word from England was he didn't hit enough rucks to be in their plans. That is the Tiggers way and we all know where all the England coaches come from! At Glos they don't want him to hit every ruck as our style of play is different to Leicester's.

Reply Quote Report

Big Five
26/09/2011 12:21

Our front five were not ruthless enough Attwood not fit he should not have been there.Nick Woods for them brilliant

Reply Quote Report

wetside
26/09/2011 13:18

Rugby John was spot on. We should have won with the possession we had. My comment though is for the coaches. When we were tackled Gloucester committed no more than 1 or 2, even none a couple of times to the breakdown. So we of course won the ball and without exception spun it wide where surprise surprise 12 or more Gloucester players were lined up and waiting. We should have picked and driven far more often and made Gloucester commit more defenders before spinning it out wide. Simples - but not to 15 highly paid pros + coaches.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:26:13:19:04 by wetside.

Reply Quote Report

ziderman
26/09/2011 20:09

From listening to it on the radio it basically sounded that we lacked a mental toughness. You can be as fit as butcher's dog, but if the top 2" are suspect you're going to be in for a hard time. Presently, other teams regard our front row as the weak underbelly of the team. Take them on, dominate the scrum and the game's theirs for the taking. Instilling self belief will be critical this week.

Basically ... not happy.

Reply Quote Report

Widcombe boy
27/09/2011 13:53

Can't see how being humped in the scrums is a mental weakness
surely more of a technical weakness with our scrummage.

Reply Quote Report

Shedhead1
27/09/2011 19:01

Shedhead 1 here:

I have been very dissappointed with both recent local derbies...Worcester were simpley dreadful and Bath not much better..

I can see Glaws having a good to VG season but we do need to win some silverware of importance

Mr Attwood will come good for you...
Regards
Bob

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, you do not have permission to post/reply in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net