Young full-back Olly Barkley kicked Bath to an opening away victory of the
season when he landed his seventh penalty in injury time to see off London Irish
at the Madejski Stadium.
The match had run seven minutes over time when referee Roy Maybank awarded
Bath, who were trailing by a single point, a penalty less than two metres inside
the London Irish half.
The youngster stepped up and kept his cool to plant his shot firmly between
the posts.
It was a tremendous climax for Barkley who supplemented an assured all-round
display with seven penalties from eight attempts to boost Bath's new coach
Michael Foley, who took over late last season following the departure of Jon
Callard.
His side finished next to bottom of the Zurich Premiership last season and he
was again forced to hand Barkley a major share of the responsibility as Bath
began the new season without international backs Mike Catt, Mike Tindall, Iain
Balshaw and Matt Perry.
Ultimately, Irish paid for a rare off-day by their usually reliable goalkicker
Barry Everitt.
The fly-half missed four kickable penalties from seven attempts as the sides
went in level at 9-9 at half-time.
Barkley's fourth penalty and a superbly struck long-range drop goal from Chris
Malone, the fly-half making his debut following his summer signing from Exeter
Chiefs, looked to have put Bath in control as they went 15-9 up seven minutes
into the second half.
Neither side had really threatened a try and when one arrived it was courtesy
of a penalty try as the Irish pack tried to steamroller the ball over the line.
Everitt converted to put Irish 16-15 ahead in the 51st minute and from that
point on it was a shoot-out between the two kickers.
Barkley's fifth penalty gave Bath a short-lived 18-16 lead, Everitt restored
the Irish lead at 19-18 with a penalty a minute later before, in the 77th
minute, Barkley's long-range penalty put Bath back in front at 21-19.
Three minutes into injury time the London Irish bench were on the pitch
celebrating as Everitt put their side back in front 22-21 with a drop goal but,
in an extended spell of added time, Barkley had the final say.
Bath's best chance of a try came in the first half when scrum-half Ross Blake,
Malone and centre Kevin Maggs, combined to stretch the London Irish defence.
But Maggs, with men outside him, turned the ball back inside for winger Rob
Thirlby who had cut in but failed to grab the difficult pass.
Irish, fourth in the Premiership last season, failed to create a clear-cut
try-scoring chance.
The major excitement generated for the 9,203 crowd came midway through the
second half when Irish centre Rob Hoadley and Bath forward Simon Emms were
sinbinned after exchanging punches.
Teams
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford, Hoadley, Rossouw,
Everitt, Edwards, Hatley, Drotske, Halford, Strudwick, Casey,
Gustard, Dawson, Sheasby.
Not Used: Barrett, Mapletoft, Danaher, Kirke, Burke, Worsley,
Hardwick.
Tries: Penalty.
Cons: Everitt.
Pens: Everitt 4.
Drop Goals: Everitt.
Bath: Barkley, Thirlby, Maggs, Crockett, Voyce, Malone, Blake,
Barnes, Humphries, Galasso, Beattie, Grewcock, G. Thomas,
Vander, N. Thomas.
Not Used: Chrystie, Mears, Emms, Davy, Mallett, Scaysbrook,
Hudson.
Pens: Barkley 7.
Drop Goals: Malone.
Att: 9,203
Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).
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