Gallagher Première: Bath Fight Fight Back to beat Bristol 34-20 and reach the tournament final | Rugby Union News
Bath returns to the Allianz Twickenham stadium for another crack in the Gallagher Première final after having run in four trials in a 34-20 victory against Bristol thanks to a powerful performance in the second half.
But the hosts had spent an anxious first half trying to repress the challenge of their closest neighbors, whose one-way of the adventure illuminated their semi-final.
Bristol was 13-6 in front of the break and it could have been more. The match of the match was marked by their James Dun lock after the Fiji Kalaveti Ravouvou wing started from its own line, leaving four bathing defenders in its wake.
Guy Pepper started in the rear row of the bath in the absence of the Underhill suspension SAM, while Cameron Redpath replaced Will But in the center. England propels Ellis Genge was recalled in Bristol Pack with Dun and Centurion Steven Luatua.
A fast and furious first half opened with a penalty in Bristol which was quickly reversed for some badly wise verbal.
When Bath then besieged the line of visitors, Genge was the man who held the ball to gain abandonment of relief.
The two sides investigated for any advantage they could find and the first points went to Bristol while J Macginty punished the counterfeit of Pepper with a ruck with a single penalty after 12 minutes.
When Hooker Gabriel Oghre cleared, Bath had to defend himself desperately before Ben Spencer releases anxiety with a long kick in the field.
But Ravouvou, collecting the ball near its own line, in a way eluded a quartet of potential plates and the home defense was quickly spread to the other end.
Lock Dun ends up cutting a simple line with posts and Macginty added the conversion for a 10-0 lead.
Ravouvou was quickly sent to the sin of sin for prevented a quick penalty by Spencer, allowing Finn Russell from withdrawing three points for Bath, but Macginty immediately answered it to do it 13-6 at the break.
The Bath cokanasiga marking the second try of his team’s game which saw them guarantee a 34-20 victory against Bristol
The loss of Scrum-Half Harry Randall to a shoulder injury just before half-time had not helped the cause of Bristol and a Ted Hill test converted by Russell just after the break brought the level of the bath.
Joe Cokanasiga plunged on a teasing kick by Tom de Glanville to mark Bath’s third try shortly after to highlight them for the first time.
When Will Muir finished a prolonged pressure period by touching in the left corner and Max Ojomoh added a fifth of the hour, Bath was back in control. With Russell without fault of the TEE, the score was suddenly 34-13.
Bristol was not about to lie down, but very little luck went in their direction and they were selected twice on the bath line.
With six minutes to do, Benhard Janse Van Rensburg finally spread to score in the area and McGinty converted.
One of the concerns for Johann Van Graan and his men before the return of next weekend to Twickenham was the Russell box after the treatment of his left leg.
