Rotherham's last game in the Zurich Premiership before relegation predictably
ended in a heavy defeat at Clifton Lane on Saturday.
They were overwhelmed and outclassed by a Bath side who scored 10 cracking
tries which included two hat-tricks by winger Rob Thirlby and centre Tom Voyce.
And with England full-back Matt Perry showing consistent form with the boot
enabling him to kick six conversions and two penalties, it wasn't surprising
that Bath so outplayed the Yorkshire team.
Bath's pace, power and handling was far too classy for the struggling
Yorkshire team who risked being humiliated before half-time.
At the break Bath had scored seven tries, four of them coming in the first 20
minutes.
Rotherham just couldn't cope and the defence was repeatedly smashed by the
Bath backs.
The west country club's pack dominated possession and territory to the extent
that Rotherham were pinned near their posts for much of the first-half.
Bath led 51-0 at the interval and it is to Rotherham's credit that a massacre
didn't materialise.
Indeed, Rotherham scored two well worked tries in the second half by forward
Ben Wade and winger Michael Wood.
The scores went some way to avoiding a wipeout, but Bath's superior speed and
skill still manufactured three second half tries.
What was particularly impressive about the Bath display which prepared them
thoroughly for the Zurich Championship play-offs was the running and ruthless
try scoring of their back division.
The way which the hat-trick men, Voyce and Thirlby took their tries was most
impressive.
Welsh scrum-half Gareth Cooper, who scored Bath's fourth try on 18 minutes,
produced an impressive all-round performance.
Thankfully, in the second-half the contest was less one-sided because
Rotherham showed plenty of commitment, recycling the ball positively and making
fewer mistakes which were so costly before the break.
Rotherham's cause wasn't helped by the sin-binning of forwards Isaac Fea'unati
and Glen Kenworthy.
But Rotherham's last game in the Premiership will be remembered for the high
class performance delivered by Bath which showed the standard that the
Yorkshiremen have to reach next season.
Teams:
Rotherham: Dawson, Dixon, Umaga, Shepherd, Wood,
Wainwright,
Harrison, Thorp, Johnson, Bunting, Cook, Kenworthy, Wade,
Schmid, Fea'unati.
Not Used: Latham, Towes, Greeff, Earnshaw, Forster, Trivella,
Naylor.
Tries: Wade, Wood.
Cons: Umaga.
Bath: Perry, Thirlby, Berne, Cox, Voyce, Catt, Cooper, Barnes,
Long, Mallett, Gabey, Borthwick, Gardiner, N. Thomas, Lyle.
Not Used: Preston, Regan, Emms, De Glanville, Adebayo, Clarke,
Lloyd.
Tries: Thirlby 3, Voyce 4, Cooper, Cox, Berne.
Cons: Perry 6.
Pens: Perry 2.
Att: 2,000
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
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