Bath kicked off, with Matt Banahan charging ahead and gathering the ball on the full and making good ground. The move produced the first score, an Olly Barkley penalty from in front of the posts, 3-0 Bath. Unfortunately this early lead was undone a minute or so later by a Bath infringement in a similar position, to allow Aironi to level through Marshall. Bath again attacked from the kick off, knocked on and from an Aironi scrum and move Bath took possession and Tom Biggs took his chance with an arcing run to use his pace to take him away from the cover to scream over in the left corner from 25 yards out. 8-3. Olly couldn't take the extras, but we were starting to see the match trend with Bath slinging the ball around and attacking in waves. Aironi interrupted proceedings briefly with another penalty, but most of the rest of the half was a mass of Bath attacks, with Bath's Captain Fantastic Luke Watson being the beneficiary of a neat little pass to run in a try from about 20 metres out to appropriate celebrations from all. With the Olly conversion it was now 15-6.

Next we had a move emanating from our half, slick and accurate passing meant that Biggs was again the beneficiary, whizzing over near the posts with not a hand laid on him, taking the score out to 22-6. Why we don't let this chap play more often I don't know, his pace heart and effort far outweighing his perceived lack of size. All through the match he was everywhere, both in defence and attack. Bath's own tattooed giant, Banahan, had the next score, brushing off some tackles that looked more like handshakes to dive flamboyantly under the Aironi posts. The easy conversion took Bath to 29-6 and gleefully the Bath faithful celebrated a bonus point up in 30 minutes.

Man of the Match Luke Watson on the charge

Thoughts of even more were halted briefly by a period of Italian pressure on the Bath line by the gnarly and tough Aironi forwards, culminating in Josh Sole touching down, the conversion pulling the score back to 29-13. The worrying sight of Nick Abendanon limping off , having been in iscomfort since an earlier move, possibly with a recurrence of his groin strain, led to Bendy being replaced by Jack Cuthbert. But never fear, after a muddly few moves by both teams in the middle of the pitch, Bath set the spirits rising again with Banahan's second try, next to the posts after again being ushered in by the Aironi defence. 36 -13 and half time followed.

Were Bath going to perform in both halves or would we see another game where only 40 minutes was played? Well from the kick off Bath coughed up possession, to allow five minutes of Aironi pressure with picking and driving. However stout Bath efforts turned the ball over and repelled the attack. From the next Aironi attack Hape was penalised for a rather feeble alleged spear tackle, seemingly doing this whilst sinking to his knees, but the ref' was convinced. Strangely Aironi chose the kick and elevated their total to 16. Moments late Shontayne was again the unfortunate recipient of the referee’s attentions, being yellowed carded for some mysterious offside offence. At this point Butch left the fray as well, having injured a knee earlier, to be replaced by Sam Vesty. The second half was being punctuated by stoppages and injuries and was definitely less flowing than the first, but the boys still tried manfully, and Banahan cheerfully accepted a hat trick score, to take the Bath score to 43-16, Barkley again taking the easy conversion.

Tom Biggs showing electric footwork and pace

Large Bath reinforcements in the shape of Belly and Lobbe arrived, being rewarded by a penalty against Aironi at the very next scrum. This was followed by two penalties in quick succession, the second occasioning the temporary exit of Bortolami for apparently pulling down a Bath maul, and Hape returned to the game. On the hour Josh Ovens replaced Moody and we entered a sustained period when Bath won penalty after penalty in their efforts to rack up more scores against a tiring opposition, the not unusual sight of a Bath knock on ending this for a while, Jarvis replacing Wilson in the meantime. We managed to knock on, then butcher a 3 man overlap with the try line beckoning, but eventually after much to and fro by both sides, a good slick passing move saw Banahan again receive what was to be a scoring pass, galloping from half way, chipping and regathering the ball on the way, and crashing his way over the line for try number four, dragging the score tantalisingly close to the half century at 48-16, the extra points being missed. Cook then replaced Claassy who had played a great game, and we were entertained by the sight of Lobbe trying a Campese style hitch kick whilst charging forward ball in hand.

On 75 minutes the sorry sight of Gareth Krause, the Aironi number 8, being stretchered off put a temporary halt to the celebrations. The 50 point target was eventually reached by Watson smuggling the ball away from a Bath move that was almost turned over, and galloping over the line for his second try and Bath's eighth. 55-16 was the score and the final whistle blew soon afterwards.

Matt Banahan could in many people's eyes have been Man of the Match, but that honour went to Luke Watson who enjoyed himself hugely today, looking for most of the game like a small boy let loose in a sweetshop. A good confidence building and enjoyable game for anyone except Aironi and their supporters and let's hope the Bath injuries aren't too serious and that Krause is OK as well.

Stuart Hooper congratulates Michael Claassens and Matt Banahan

Photos by Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images