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There is a fresh optimism at both these clubs that this season could bring with it long-awaited success in Europe. - 16/10/2014 17:07
There is a fresh optimism at both these clubs that this season could bring with it long-awaited success in Europe.
Glasgow Warriors have made a blistering start to the Guinness Pro12, winning their first five games and are currently second in the table.
However a constant source of frustration is that the club has not reached the knock-out stages of Europe since 1998.
By coincidence that was the year Bath lifted the trophy, though it has been a barren period since and have progressed from the Champions Cup pool stages once in the past eight years.
Yet both teams harbour hopes of reaching the knock-out stages this year.
Gregor Townsend has built a team that is regularly reaching the Pro12 play-offs and capable of carrying that success onto the continent.
Scotland wing Sean Maitland is back from injury and ready to line-up alongside fellow British & Irish Lion Stuart Hogg. Richie Vernon and Ryan Wilson could also be back in contention following the Warriors first defeat of the season, to Ulster last week.
Townsend said: “Our focus has been on recovery after a lot of effort went into [that] game but we’re really looking forward to the new European competition and it’s fantastic that we’re getting to play at home first against one of the form teams in Europe.”
Bath were also second in their respective league before defeat to Wasps last week, however they proved resilient enough to once again claim a losing bonus point, just as they did at Northampton Saints two weeks earlier.
That was thanks to a remarkable second-half fight-back through tries from Jamie Joseph, David Pisi and Micky Young. It came at a price, however, with back-row Leroy Houston suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle and will miss the trip to Scotstoun.
Head coach Mike Fords said: “This is our first season in the European Rugby Champions Cup for a while, so it’s a tough assignment but one we’re looking forward to.
“I don’t mind playing away from home because I love the challenge. On a wet and windy Saturday afternoon in Glasgow it will be great to see where we’re at against that sort of opposition.”
Match Facts
- Bath have won five of their six Heineken Cup games against Glasgow, losing one.
- Five of the six encounters between these sides in the Heineken Cup have been settled by fewer than seven points.
- Glasgow Warriors averaged more carries (131) and metres (489) than any other Heineken Cup side last season.
- Bath Rugby were involved in the lowest scoring Heineken Cup game ever, a 3-3 draw with Toulouse in 2008/09.
Mark Bennett scored two tries as Glasgow Warriors demolished Bath Rugby at Scotstoun. - 18/10/2014 20:05
Mark Bennett scored two tries as Glasgow Warriors demolished Bath Rugby at Scotstoun.
Warriors centre Bennett and wings Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour all crossed during a dominant first-half display.
A mistake from Stuart Hogg under the high ball allowed Jonathan Joseph to grab a try for the Aviva Premiership side but scores from Niko Matawalu and Bennett after the break wrapped up the win.
“We knew it was going to be a step up from the PRO12,” said Warriors skipper and Heineken Man of the Match, Henry Pyrgos.
“We’ve done well in the league over the last few years but not in Europe. Hopefully this is the start of something good in Europe this season.”
Fly-half George Ford kicked an early penalty for Bath but Bennett hit straight back with a try. Duncan Weir added the extras for the home side but their lead lasted less than two minutes. A dropped ball in midfield allowed Bath centre Joseph to hack forward and go under the posts.
But two Weir penalties put the Warriors back in front as they took control. Superb play in the back-line saw Hogg put Scotland international Maitland over in the corner after half hour and four minutes before the break Tommy Seymour grabbed their third try.
Replacement DTH van der Merwe spurned a great chance to claim a fourth try for Warriors after the interval when he knocked on five metres out but Fijian scrum-half Matawalu secured the bonus point when he collected his own chip to dive over in the corner.
Warriors got a fifth try when van der Merwe broke clear from inside his own half and kicked ahead for Bennett to cross for his second in a superb display from the Scots.
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