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Semesa Rokoduguni of Bath breaks clear to score their third try against Wasps.
Both Bath Rugby and Wasps can end a four-match winless streak on Saturday when they face off at The Rec. BT Sport has live TV coverage of the clash at 15:15 GMT.
- Bath and Wasps have met three times in the tournament with their record evenly split, winning one game apiece and one draw.
- Wasps have the best goalkicking success rate this season, while Bath have the third worst.
- Wasps have missed more tackles than any other side this season, however, Bath have the lowest tackle success rate at 84%.
- Bath’s Francois Louw and Wasps’ Thomas Young have each won nine turnovers this season. No player has won more.
3⃣ things not to miss | Plenty in store as rugby returns to the Rec this Saturday for the visit of @WaspsRugby.
For more information and tickets ➡️ https://t.co/DqQ3ALekvj pic.twitter.com/06r2PrQf4d
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) January 8, 2019
Bath Rugby scrum-half Max Green scored the first try of the match at The Recreation Ground.
Bath Rugby edged out their English rivals Wasps in a back-and-forth encounter at The Recreation Ground, triumphing 18-16 in Pool 1, courtesy of a late Rhys Priestland penalty.
Lima Sopoaga scored the games’ first points after slotting his penalty kick to give Wasps an early lead but it was Taulupe Falutau, returning from a three-month spell on the sidelines, who set up the first try of the afternoon with a scintillating run.
The Welsh international broke through the Wasps defence inside his own half and gave Max Green an easy run in to the try line to give the home side the lead. Priestland was wide with his conversion attempt.
"The ball is like a peanut in his hand!"
Taulupe Faletau shows what he's all about with a brilliant break and a delightful offload to give @bathrugby their first score of the day!
Class from the Welsh international 💪 pic.twitter.com/0oaYctHME0
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 12, 2019
Wasps responded immediately through England No.8, Nathan Hughes, who used his long arms to great use to put the ball down on the line and give Wasps the lead back. Lima Sopoaga added the extra two points.
But it was Bath’s turn to entertain, with centre Max Wright perfectly timing a delayed pop pass to Zach Mercer, who had acres of space to score Bath’s second try of the afternoon. Priestland ensured maximum points with the conversion.
Sopoaga put Wasps back ahead after the break with a simple penalty in front of the sticks, but his opposite number Rhys Priestland gave Bath back the lead with three-pointer himself.
With regular place-kicker Sopoaga being sent to the sin-bin for foul play, Rob Miller stepped up to snatch the lead back for Wasps to continue the to-and-fro action.
However, it was Bath that prevailed in the end after Rhys Priestland’s 79th minute penalty to give the West Country club their first win of the Heineken Champions Cup campaign.
Bath centre Max Clark was named Heineken Man of the Match and told BT Sport: “We’re delighted. We spoke about both teams having nothing to fight for but it is massive opportunity to build and prove your worth as a team. These are the games that Bath have let slip and we owe it to the fans to deliver and win.
“[On the supporters] Unfortunately, we haven’t been up to standard this season and they turn out week-in, week-out and deserve to watch some good rugby and I think they’ll be pleased with the win.”
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