ON-THE-WHISTLE MATCH REPORT: Bath Rugby 38-3 Cardiff Blues

Bath Rugby made amends for Saturday's defeat to Cardiff with a resounding victory over the Welsh side in the European Challenge Cup rematch that saw them go top of their Pool ahead of their opposition.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold and Bath proved that saying to be true as they profited on a poorly-disciplined Cardiff to earn a big win at a chilly Recreation Ground.

It is a result which keeps Todd Blackadder's side in contention to win Pool 4 to book them a quarter-final place in the Challenge Cup as a group winner as opposed to one of the best runner ups. 

After a cagey opening 20 minutes which saw George Ford miss one of the easiest penalties of his career, Cardiff drew first blood via the boot of Steve Shingler.

Shingler, who caused Bath all sorts of bother with his point kicking in Cardiff's 28-3 win on Saturday, knocked home a penalty to make it 3-0 to the visitors in the 22nd minute.

Just five minutes later though the Blue, Black and White overturned the score when hooker Ross Batty found space in the Blues defence to dive over for the first try of the contest.

Ford converted to make amends for his earlier penalty blunder and Bath had a 7-3 lead.

In the 33rd minute Ford cemented his apology with a succesful penalty to extend the hosts' numerical advantage to seven so that they went into the half-time break at 10-3.

Kirby Myhill was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Dave Attwood two minutes into the second half and Cardiff were duly punished just a minute later.

With an extra man, Bath pushed on and Ford brilliantly found Jack Wilson on the right-hand side and when on the floor Wilson planted the ball for a second Bath try. Ford converted for 17-3.

In the build-up for that try George Earle was found guilty of gouging the eye of a Bath man and was given his marching orders with the red card. 

Cardiff were left horribly exposed when down to 13 men and Bath notched try number three in the 52nd minute. 

Toby Faletau, who was a threat all night with his superb ball carrying, was the driving force which ended with Aled Brew catching a swerving cross-field pass before gliding over the try line. Ford was truly back to his kicking best and knocked over the extra two points. 24-3.

Even when Myhill had returned from the Bin, Bath were rampant.

With 15 minutes left, Batty brilliantly intercepted a loose pass and had the freedom of the Rec to run half the length of the pitch from the Pink and Blue shirts to score his second and Bath's fourth try of the night. 

Despite considering the penalty early on, Ford could not miss the conversion and the party could truly get going with Bath cruising at 31-3.

As the clock ticked down to the 80th minute, Bath scored their fifth and final try. Elliot Stooke made it 36-3 with his try and Tom Homer was given kicking duties to add another two points as the game ended 38-3.