Bath followed Leicester into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a convincing
victory over Swansea at St Helens.
Bath booked their place in the knock-out stages for the first time since they
were crowned European champions in 1998 thanks to first-half tries from flanker
Mark Gabey and wing Kevin Maggs.
Centre Olly Barkley completed the job with four penalties and a conversion,
leaving a Swansea side containing eight internationals a distant second best.
The Welsh club have failed to score a try in five European group games this
term, but at least Bath ended their five-hour drought through the efforts of
Gabey and Maggs.
Swansea's only hope of finishing above Bath in pool three was to win tonight
by a five-try margin, but that never looked a possibility as Bath started well
and grew in confidence as the game developed.
Victory in their final group clash at home to Biarritz next Saturday should
secure a home draw in the last eight as they look to rekindle memories of four
years ago when they lifted the Heineken Cup after a thrilling 19-18 success
against Brive in Bordeaux.
Barkley slotted Bath into a first-minute lead when he landed his opening
penalty, and although Swansea fly-half Arwel Thomas levelled the scores shortly
afterwards, Swansea rarely threatened in attack.
Thomas was wide of the target with two long-range penalty attempts before Bath
effectively took the game out of reach through a dominant second-quarter
display.
Gabey powered over for their opening touchdown on 21 minutes - it was Bath's
first competitive try since they lost at Wasps on December 2 - and then
strong-running centre Mike Tindall smashed through Swansea's brittle defence to
send Maggs on a clear run to the line.
Barkley converted Gabey's try and kicked another penalty.
Despite Thomas slotting his second goal just before the break, Bath changed
ends with a healthy 18-6 advantage.
Thomas reduced the arrears with his third penalty early in the second half and
Bath struggled for a spell after they lost full-back Iain Balshaw following a
heavy collision with Swansea skipper Scott Gibbs.
But Swansea did not help their cause when Wales prop Darren Morris was
sin-binned by Scottish referee Iain Ramage for use of the boot, and another
Thomas penalty meant Bath were still at a safe distance.
Bath skipper Dan Lyle went on as a 62nd-minute substitute - his first
appearance since suffering a hamstring injury playing for the United States
against South Africa five weeks ago - and that gave the visitors extra stability
as they finished strongly through two more Barkley penalties.
Bath replacement prop Dan Dorsey was yellow-carded for a high challenge on
Swansea wing Shaun Payne just five minutes after taking the field.
But the visitors were comfortably in control and can now look forward to a
quarter-final date in European rugby's biggest club competition.
Teams:
Swansea: K. Morgan, Rees, Winn, Gibbs, Payne, A. Thomas,
R. Jones, Morris, Marsters, Evans, Maullin, Griffiths, Lewis,
D. Thomas, L. Jones.
Replacements: Martens, Henson, Lima, Le Chavalier, Mason, Bater,
H. Jenkins.
Pens: A. Thomas 4.
Bath: Balshaw, Thirlby, Barkley,
Tindall, Maggs, Catt,
Williams, D. Barnes, Long, Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock,
G. Thomas, Gabey, N. Thomas.
Replacements: Crockett, Regan, Emms, Voyce, Danielli, Dorsey, Lyle.
Tries: Maggs, Gabey.
Cons: Barkley.
Pens: Barkley 4.
Att: 2,500
Ref: Ian Ramage (Scotland).
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