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Bath and Bristol will be looking to scratch a seven year itch when they meet for the first time since 2009 in the second round of the Challenge Cup. - 18/10/2016 16:18
Bath and Bristol will be looking to scratch a seven year itch when they meet for the first time since 2009 in the second round of the Challenge Cup.
Newly promoted Bristol have yet to win a game since their return to the top flight this season, but there is nothing like a local derby to get the blood stirring among players and fans alike. No derby match in Europe this season involves clubs closer together, a mere 12.6 miles separating the two cities.
But while Andy Robinson Bristol side have been far from ship shape this season, it wasn’t that long ago they were celebrating a treble over their nearest rivals in less than four months. That was back in the 2006/07 season when they won the Anglo-Welsh clash at the Memorial Ground 22-15 on 1 October, the away trip to The Rec in the Aviva Premiership on 18 November 19-12 and then the return league fixture 16-6 at Ashton Gate.
Bath, however, can claim victory in the last four league encounters in a fixture that dates back as far as 27 October, 1888. The last time they met in a competitive fixture was at The Rec on 7 March, 2009, when Bath triumphed 45-8 in a Premiership fixture.
Bristol’s return to European action saw them go down 33-20 to Cardiff Blues at Ashton Gate after taking an early lead with a try from hooker Max Crumpton. Bath hung on to battle past Pau 25-22 at Stade du Hameau with Wales outside half Rhys Priestland kicking 20 points.
Priestland may have missed out on Rob Howley’s Autumn Test squad, but Bath lock Luke Charteris and No 8 Taulupe Faletau were both included. Charteris could find himself going up against a fore Wales team mate, Ian Evans, in a big boiler-house battle against Bristol.
Bath skipper Guy Mercer was full of praise for his side’s supporters in the wake of their win in France. They made their presence felt and are all set to do battle with the Bristol supporters from the terraces this week.
“The travelling support that came out to Pau for our European Rugby Challenge Cup was amazing. We saw so many supporters around the town leading up to the game, and at the stadium itself, and the welcome we got when we got to the ground was incredible,” said Mercer.
“We really do appreciate the fantastic support we receive, especially on these European trips, and we could hear the fans loud and clear throughout the game. It was a hard-fought win in the end and we were really pleased to come away with the four points.”
Match Facts
- This will be the second time the West Country rivals have met in European competition. Bath saw off Bristol in the 2007 Challenge Cup quarter-final by 51-12.
- Bath come into this match having won 24 of their previous 25 home Challenge Cup matches (L1).
- Bristol have tasted defeat in five of their previous six Challenge Cup fixtures against Premiership opposition, losing the last four matches.
- Bristol’s Tom Varndell needs one try to become the all-time leading try scorer in the Challenge Cup (currently 20).
- Rhys Priestland scored 20 points in Bath’s win in Pau last weekend – more than any other player in Round 1.
Rhys Priestland was Bath's match-winner for the second time in a week with an accomplished kicking display against Bristol. - 20/10/2016 22:39
Rhys Priestland was Bath’s match-winner for the second time in a week with an accomplished kicking display against Bristol.
The Wales international booted 17 points including the conversion of Matt Banahan’s late try to put the seal on a hotly-contested derby at the Recreation Ground.
Billy Searle and Shane Geraghty kicked a penalty apiece but it was to be a disappointing return for former head coach Andy Robinson, now director of rugby at Bristol, who lead Bath to their greatest moment when they became European champions in 1998.
Bristol produced a stern defensive effort but rarely looked like preventing hosts Bath from a second win in six days in the European Rugby Challenge Cup after trailing from the seventh minute and were not helped by being briefly reduced to 13 men in the second half.
This local rivalry dates back to 1888 but this was the first meeting between these historic clubs in seven years and a crowd of 13,000 packed inside the Rec for the latest chapter.
Bristol fly-half Billy Searle made a lively start but it was opposite number Priestland who picked up where he left off against Pau last week as he kicked Bath into an early 6-0 lead.
Bristol’s scrum impressed handing full-back Jordan Williams a platform to attack while Bath had real impact in the shape of Matt Banahan and Aled Brew.
Yet neither side could find a way through two resilient defences as Searle clawed back three points before Priestland landed two more penalties, after Tom Homer missed from distance, to give the hosts a hard-fought 12-3 lead at half-time.
They came closest to extending that six minutes into the second half when a mistake by Bristol at a lineout almost let Bath in but the visitors managed to stop Banahan in his tracks close to the line.
Bristol boss Robinson turned to veteran fly-half Geraghty, signed this week from London Irish, to help steer his side back into the game and he immediately pulled back three points, thanks to the scrum.
Priestland kicked a fifth penalty after Zach Mercer burst clear and the growing pressure brought two yellow cards.
Jack Tovey was first for infringing at a ruck and Geraghty followed for a no-arms tackle on Brew, leaving Bristol with 13 men for two minutes. Tovey returned but his spill in midfield allowed Banahan to race clear for the game’s only try in the final seconds.
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