Bath makes it an all-English affair
Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:37
Bath will meet Worcester Warriors in an all-English Final of the European Challenge Cup, after a comprehensive 36-14 win over Sale Sharks at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.
The Final will take place at Kingsholm, the home of Gloucester Rugby, on Sunday, May 25.
It will be the first major Final the Warriors have reached, while Bath will be in the final for the third time and the second season running.
And Bath still remains in the running for an English and Euro double, with their Guinness Premiership play-off prospects still very much alive - with their second place on the standings putting them in the driving seat on the domestic front as well.
At the Rec on Saturday tries by Michael Claassens, Michael Lipman, Danny Grewcock, Andy Higgins and Matt Banahan secured Bath's second successive Final place in the Challenge Cup.
The West country side lost to Clermont Auvergne at the Stoop last season, but will be firm favourites against Mike Ruddock's Worcester next month.
Last year's finalists kicked off in perfect conditions for running rugby, but suffered a blow when Sale flyhalf Charlie Hodgson sweetly struck drop-goal flew through the posts within 90 seconds.
But the hosts hit back instantly when Claassens charged down Hodgson's kick and reacted first to touch down for his opening try of the competition.
Olly Barkley converted the extras before extending the home side's lead to 10-3 with a penalty on seven minutes.
Bath were firmly in the ascendency and cemented their advantage two minutes later.
Grewcock started the move before excellent support work by England's Matt Stevens set up Lipman who burst through a gaping hole in the Sale defence for Bath's second try.
Barkley's second conversion sealed a commanding opening ten minutes for Bath.
But Hodgson's penalty reduced the deficit to 11 points before Chris Mayor's controversial 17th minute try brought the visitors back into the match.
French official Christophe Berdos ordered Bath captain Steve Borthwick to have a word with his players following another infringement.
But within seconds, he allowed Sale to restart the match and Hodgson's cross-kick caught the hosts napping leaving Mayor the simple task of touching down in the left corner.
Hodgson missed the conversion and Luke McAlister took over the kicking duties two minutes later.
And the All Blacks star's long-range penalty cut Bath's lead to just three points.
But in a pulsating opening 20 minutes, Bath responded in emphatic style when the South African halfback pair - Claassens and Butch James - combined to release Grewcock who powered over. Barkley converted and their comfortable lead was restored.
After the drama of the opening quarter, the tempo dropped as Bath maintained their ten-point advantage at the interval.
Sale lost Andrew Sheridan early in the second period and Sean Meehan's men secured their final berth with their fourth try of the match before the hour mark.
Kiwi McAlister dropped the ball in midfield and after Lipman kicked on, wing Higgins beat Hodgson and Will Cliff in the sprint to touch down.
Barkley cooly slotted home his fourth conversion before Banahan's try after Claassens neat grubber kick through put the tie out of reach for Sale.
The scorers:
For Bath:
Tries: Claassens, Lipman, Grewcock, Higgins, Banahan
Cons: Barkley 4
Pen: Barkley
For Sale:
Try: Mayor
Pens: Hodgson, McAlister
DG: Hodgson
Teams:
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Andrew Higgins, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Chris Goodman, 7 Michael Lipman, 6
Jonny Faamatuainu, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Barnes.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Duncan Bell, 18 Peter Short, 19 Zak Feaunati, 20 Mike Baxter, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Tom Cheeseman.
Sale Sharks: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Mayor, 13 Chris Bell, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Chris Jones, 6 Sean Cox, 5 Dean Schofield, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (captain), 3 Stuart Turner, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Roberts, 18 Lionel Faure, 19 Brent Cockbain, 20 Michael Hills, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Julien Laharrague.
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
