Bath Sporting Round-Up

Bath City looked to continue their fine run of form with an away trip to Braintree. Bath Rugby looked to bounce back following a humiliating comeback defeat to Northampton.

Romans stunned by late Braintree charge

Bath came back to National League South action following their victory over Weymouth in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round. The Romans faced an away trip to Braintree Town knowing a win would keep them top of the table. 

The opening exchanges saw both sides creating chances but Tom Smith would have the first big opportunity to open the scoring. Jordan Thomas fired a shot into the ground and it bounced up perfectly for Smith but he couldn’t divert the shot into the back of the net.  

Dan Hayfield provided the next chance of the game for Bath in the 30th minute, his header forced the Braintree keeper into action to keep the scores level. 

Aside from the two chances the first half came and went with no real threats on the Braintree goal.

The second half saw Bath push hard for an opener, Scott Wilson came close from a corner his header looking destined for the back of the net but a defender was on hand to deny him.

A great team move ended with the ball falling to Wilson who would not be denied a second time as he fired home making it 1-0 to Bath. 

Following the goal Bath had a chance to kill the game with a free-kick, but Hayfield's strike just whistled past the post. Following the chance Bath had to defend against a short spell of Braintree chances. The league leaders dealt with the pressure and almost scored following a counter that saw Smith go close with a volley. 

Braintree were pushing hard for an equaliser Davies was causing the Bath defence all kinds of problems first heading narrowly over as the game entered the final ten minutes, then he looked certain to have equalised but Jordan Dyer threw himself across to deny him at the final moment. 

Bath looked to be taking the three points home but a late equaliser from Aaron Blair saw the sides split the points

Bath back to winning ways

Bath came into the clash with Exeter Chiefs wanting to make amends for last week's loss to Northampton Saints. 

Much like last week Bath started the better of the two sides Niall Annett scoring the first try of the game in the fourth minute, Piers Francis converted making it a strong start for Bath. Just three minutes later Bath would win a penalty that Francis dispatched making it 10-0 inside the opening 10 minutes.

Bath would score again in the 14th minute Tom de Glanville kept his exceptional start to the season going with another try, his fifth in just three games, the extra points would be converted making it 17-0. 

The game would settle into a lull following the rush of early tries, with there not being any more points scored until the 36th minute. Francis had been kicking all the extra points but now it was his time to get a try. Despite scoring the try the conversion was missed this time but Bath extended the lead to 22-0.

Right on half time Will Muir was on hand to make it 27 and Francis converted giving Bath a 29-0 lead at the break. 

The second half saw Exeter trying to spark a comeback but the Bath back line would not budge and going past the hour neither side had scored a point since the 39th minute. 

The Chiefs would get their first points on the board in the 66th minute, Josh Iosefa-Scott scoring the try and Henry Slade converting making it 29-7. The visitors were not done and added another try in the 72nd minute, Josh Hodge providing the try and Slade converting making it 29-14. 

Fears of another comeback were causing nerves in the crowd and they wouldn’t be settled when de Glavnville had to go off with an injury leaving Bath down to 14. 

Any hopes of a comeback for Exeter were silenced when Max Ojomoh scored a try making it 34-14 to Bath. 

The game came to a close and a deserved victory for Bath that gets their season back on track. Despite a late scare of a comeback the hosts calmly responded and closed the game out. 

Bath’s next match sees them play host to the Newcastle Falcons.