Bath

AFTER A RUN OF DISMAL DEFEATS at the hands of West Country rivals Bath, Gloucester at last stopped the rot of under-performances with a workmanlike win in their first Premiership fixture of the new season.
The blustery conditions with a swirling wind and intermittent rain did nothing to aid entertaining rugby in a scrappy game. Despite their negative spoiling tactics, which seemed to have come straight from the Welford Road coaching manual, Bath were never able to exert the forward authority which has ensured victories in the past.
This time the Gloucester pack was not overawed or outplayed by their opponents. The illustrious Bath pairing of Grewcock and Borthwick did not have their own way in the line out for once, where Alex Brown and Marco Bortolami were outstanding.
Bath were not allowed to exert any sustained pressure on the home side who looked a more enterprising team with a hint of developing into a class side.
Newcomers Christian Califano and Marco Bortolami were excellent and it almost goes without saying that non-stop action man Andy Hazell is once again in a class on his own. England’s loss is very much Gloucester’s gain.
Behind the scrum Gloucester’s efforts at half back were very much a mixed bag.
Peter Richards is a hard playing natural competitor but his service is still the Achilles heel of his overall game. It does seem somewhat odd that a top class international scrum half such as Brian Redpath, has, as yet, been unable to fully develop the passing skills of his charges.
Kiwi Willie Walker coped well with the difficult conditions but was not entirely convincing at No. 10. His goal kicking was sound but his line kicking less so. Far too many kicks surrendered possession and gained little ground. It is early days but he seems to be very much in the Mercier mould. A typical competent, no nonsense New Zealander but seemingly without too much guile or flair.
Bath got the best possible start with an Olly Barkley penalty but Walker soon evened things with a successful kick to open the home side’s account. There was plenty of honest endeavour but too much aimless kicking before Walker added another penalty and Bath lost their way and their discipline in the period just before half time.
Referee Sean Davey lost patience with the cynical Bath tactics as Borthwick and Stephenson were yellow carded and Walker duly edged Gloucester into a deserved 12-6 interval lead.
Debutant Iain Balshaw picked up an ankle injury and did not reappear for the second half to be replaced by Jack Adams on the wing.
He made an almost immediate impact after a crisp move between Anthony Allen and Mefin Davies made space for James Forrester who provided the key pass for Adams to step inside for the first try converted by Walker.19-6.
Barkley missed a penalty but Bath’s Berne kicked a huge touch-finder to the Gloucester line where the visitors won the ball against the throw and drove Grewcock over for the try. Barkley missed the conversion. 19 -11. The Cherry and Whites responded I positive fashion with a strong surging run by Andy Hazell down the right wing. He was stopped deep in the Bath half but Richards, Brown and Buxton worked the ball back across field for full back Olly Morgan to cement the lead at 24-11.
As the game entered the final quarter Bath raised their game and hopes with a second try from Grewcock followed by a Barkley penalty. 24-19.
Unlike some matches in the past, Bath were unable to sneak a win at the end and there were no further scores as Gloucester ground out the remaining time to take the spoils.
Not the best of games but the best start to a new season.
T.H.


Newcomers make the difference
Gloucester earn their win
Gloucester 24 Bath 19
AFTER A RUN OF DISMAL DEFEATS at the hands of West Country rivals Bath, Gloucester at last stopped the rot of under-performances with a workmanlike win in their first Premiership fixture of the new season. The blustery conditions with a swirling wind and intermittent rain did nothing to aid entertaining rugby in a scrappy game. Despite their negative spoiling tactics, which seemed to have come straight from the Welford Road coaching manual, Bath were never able to exert the forward authority which has ensured victories in the past. This time the Gloucester pack was not overawed or outplayed by their opponents. The illustrious Bath pairing of Grewcock and Borthwick did not have their own way in the line out for once, where Alex Brown and Marco Bortolami were outstanding. Bath were not allowed to exert any sustained pressure on the home side who looked a more enterprising team with a hint of developing into a class side. Newcomers Christian Califano and Marco Bortolami were excellent and it almost goes without saying that non-stop action man Andy Hazell is once again in a class on his own. England’s loss is very much Gloucester’s gain. Behind the scrum Gloucester’s efforts at half back were very much a mixed bag. Peter Richards is a hard playing natural competitor but his service is still the Achilles heel of his overall game. It does seem somewhat odd that a top class international scrum half such as Brian Redpath, has, as yet, been unable to fully develop the passing skills of his charges. Kiwi Willie Walker coped well with the difficult conditions but was not entirely convincing at No. 10. His goal kicking was sound but his line kicking less so. Far too many kicks surrendered possession and gained little ground. It is early days but he seems to be very much in the Mercier mould. A typical competent, no nonsense New Zealander but seemingly without too much guile or flair. Bath got the best possible start with an Olly Barkley penalty but Walker soon evened things with a successful kick to open the home side’s account. There was plenty of honest endeavour but too much aimless kicking before Walker added another penalty and Bath lost their way and their discipline in the period just before half time. Referee Sean Davey lost patience with the cynical Bath tactics as Borthwick and Stephenson were yellow carded and Walker duly edged Gloucester into a deserved 12-6 interval lead. Debutant Iain Balshaw picked up an ankle injury and did not reappear for the second half to be replaced by Jack Adams on the wing. He made an almost immediate impact after a crisp move between Anthony Allen and Mefin Davies made space for James Forrester who provided the key pass for Adams to step inside for the first try converted by Walker.19-6. Barkley missed a penalty but Bath’s Berne kicked a huge touch-finder to the Gloucester line where the visitors won the ball against the throw and drove Grewcock over for the try. Barkley missed the conversion. 19 -11. The Cherry and Whites responded I positive fashion with a strong surging run by Andy Hazell down the right wing. He was stopped deep in the Bath half but Richards, Brown and Buxton worked the ball back across field for full back Olly Morgan to cement the lead at 24-11. As the game entered the final quarter Bath raised their game and hopes with a second try from Grewcock followed by a Barkley penalty. 24-19. Unlike some matches in the past, Bath were unable to sneak a win at the end and there were no further scores as Gloucester ground out the remaining time to take the spoils. Not the best of games but the best start to a new season. T.H.
Pricey's Postscript It wasn't pretty and in fact at times it was scary but I came away satisfied with the result. Despite dreadful conditions I thought Gloucester's ball handling skill levels were extremely high, although despite Dean Ryan's praise for keeping the ball in hand, I thought we kicked it away far too often when close to the Bath line. When you have good hands surely patience is a virtue? A number of Gloucester players were outstanding but the finest was Andy Hazell - man of the match by a country mile. Perhaps he's so fast that Offside Robinson isn't quick enough to spot him? The building blocks for a great season are undoubtedly there - just hope that we're building a sky scraper with panache and flair and not a single storey concrete shopping mall. One final thought - after ten minutes or so the ref stopped the clock and warned the Bath captain that any further penalty offences may incur a yellow card. What does the ref talk about in his pre-match talk to the teams? Is it really necessary to warn, on the pitch, professionals that professional fouls will result in the sin bin? J.G.P. - 3/9/2006

	Walker penalty 3mins,. pen. 30mins, pen 35mins, pen 40mins	H/T -12-6
	Adams try, Walker con. 45mins, Morgan try, 60mins	24-19.
Scores - 0-3, 3-3, 6-3, 9-3, 9-6, 12-6, 19-6, 19-11, 24-11, 24-16, 24-19