Bath squeezed out only their second Zurich Premiership win of the season to
move away from the bottom of the table - but it was nail-biting stuff.
Again they had Matt Perry to thank for providing defensive solidity and a
sureness with the boot which provided four penalties and a conversion of Mike
Tindall's try.
Just as important to coach John Callard however, will have been the knowledge
that his side can actually win games without the charismatic presence of Mike
Catt at fly-half.
After his heroics with team-mate Danny Grewcock in the England shirt Bath were
at least able to call on players who had been on the bench at Twickenham but did
not actually face the Australians.
An interesting selection move saw Iain Balshaw, discarded by Clive Woodward
for the Wallaby game, begin his Bath rehabilitation in the centre alongside
Tindall.
Balshaw, regarded as a wing or full-back, was at least able to see far more of
the ball and begin to work off his frustration with some effective covering and
tackling.
Also available to Bath today were Perry and second row Steve Borthwick who
reinforced the forward effort against a robust London Irish pack.
Irish, third in the table going into this game with only one defeat so far in
the League, showed a level of confidence which has been lacking in the Bath
side.
A Garrod Cunningham penalty on 28 minutes pulled the sides level after a close
first half-hour and then Tindall finished off an opportunist chip and catch ploy
by young fly-half Olly Barkley to score under the posts.
Perry converted and also added another penalty before half-time while
Cunningham had to be content with a second successful kick from over 40 metres.
Irish, true to form, replaced their entire front row early in the second half
and the Bath scrum began to creak, but Perry ensured victory with two more
successful penalties before Irish wing Paul Sackey latched onto a cross kick by
fly-half James Brown to score an injury-time try.
Unfortunately for Irish, Brown could not add the conversion to earn his side a
bonus point.
Teams
Bath: Perry, Voyce, Balshaw, Tindall,
Danielli, Barkley,
Cooper, D. Barnes, Long, Emms, Borthwick, Gabey, Scaysbrook,
Beattie, Lyle.
Replacements: Mallett for Emms (40).
Not Used: Chrystie, Mears, Thirlby, Crockett, El Abd, Hopcroft.
Tries: Tindall.
Cons: Perry.
Pens: Perry 4.
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford,
Hoadley, Cunningham,
Brown, Edwards, Worsley, Drotske, Halford, Strudwick, Williams,
Halvey, Danaher, Sheasby.
Replacements: Bates for Cunningham (72),
Martens for Edwards (74), Hatley for Worsley (47),
Hardwick for Drotske (47), Thrower for Halford (47),
Kirke for Williams (72).
Not Used: Fahrensohn.
Sin Bin: Hoadley (51).
Tries: Sackey.
Pens: Cunningham 2.
Att: 7,656
Ref: R Goodliffe (Sheffield (RFU)).
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