Match Report by Dewi Williams
In a pulsating encounter, both sides competed fiercely, but Bath’s composure in the final third of the match saw them close out the game at Llanrumney.
The defeat leaves Cardiff 9th in the table, a win next week away would ensure another season in BUCS Super Rugby.
As the first whistle blew, Bath came flying out of the blocks. An early penalty against Cardiff saw Bath kick to the corner and score an early try off the back of a rolling maul. After 2 minutes Cardiff trailed by 7.
The following ten minutes were dominated by kicking battles as both teams tried to get a foothold in the game. Cardiff’s backfield defused bomb after bomb until eventually gaining some territory as a result of fullback Tomi Booth and fly half Harrison James’ efforts, allowing Cardiff to play some rugby in the Bath twenty-two.
As the men in red went through phase after phase, the breakthrough finally came as Harrison James called the ball out the back of a pod of forwards, glided through a gaping hole in the Bath defence, and dived over the line before converting his own try. Cardiff 7 – 7 Bath.
Both sides went through numerous phases in attack and defence throughout the following ten minutes, with more aerial battles between both sets of backs. Cardiff’s defence impressed, notably when they stopped another of Bath’s powerful rolling mauls five meters out from their line.
The pressure mounted on Cardiff however, with Bath scoring their second try off the back of another successful rolling maul after two quick successive penalties against Cardiff. With 23 minutes on the clock, the score stood at Cardiff 7 – 14 Bath after the Will Roue’s successful conversion.
Despite the setback, the men in red were quick to respond. After a Bath knock on straight from kick off, Cardiff found some momentum in their attacking play, earning a penalty as a result. After a kick to the corner, a perfectly thrown dart over the top of the line to inside centre Lloyd McEwan-Peters saw Cardiff muscle their way to the Bath try line. A few phases later, a long pass over the top from scrum half George Macdonald to Harrison James resulted in his second of the match, narrowly missing the conversion as it hit the left upright. Cardiff 12 – Bath 14.
Just as the half was drawing to a close, a loose kick found itself in the hands of the Bath winger Alex Clayton, as he managed to draw in his opposing defender and get the ball away to Iwan Coyle who had a clear run to the Cardiff goal area, adding another 5 points to their lead. At half time the game was in the balance, the score Cardiff 12 – Bath 19.
As the second half kicked off, the boys from the capital came out firing. After two successive penalties against Bath, the latter taken quickly, number 8 Oliver Stirling found himself crashing over the Bath try line, before losing control of the ball and knocking it on over the line. A golden chance gone missing.
Subsequently, following two quick successive penalties the other way, the men in blue found themselves once again with a lineout 5 meters out from the Cardiff line. Another unstoppable driving maul saw Bath extend the lead. Cardiff 12 – 24 Bath.
The closing 30 minutes of the game was tight, with Cardiff trying to grind their way back into the game whilst Bath tried to put the nail in the coffin. Despite this, neither team managed to score any points, with both teams picking up numerous penalties in defence and making countless errors in attack.
Despite a valiant effort from Cardiff, Bath’s calmness and composure in the closing minutes secured them the win, with Cardiff falling just short of earning some well-deserved points for the effort they showed.
Next week it’s the final game of the regular season for Cardiff as they take on Exeter away in what captain Tom Caple described as ‘probably the biggest game in the club’s history’.
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