BRISTOL v BATH: 5 CLASSIC matches
October 27, 1888 The County Ground, Bristol Bristol 3 Bath 5
The first meeting between the two sides took place at Gloucestershire County Cricket Ground in horfield, Bristol, in front of 700-800 supporters. Frank White scored the opening try for Bath and lost his shorts in the process as they were ripped off by full-back Derham. Brown responded for the hosts with a converted try, which was then worth three points. Anderson and Moneypenny both touched down for Bath to secure a 5-3 win.
April 28, 1984 Twickenham Bath 10 Bristol 9
In their first John Player Cup final, Bath faced reigning champions Bristol, who had Stuart Barnes at ten. John Horton opened the scoring with a trademark drop-goal from 25 yards. Bath number eight Paul Simpson bulldozed his way over for a try to make it 7-0 and John Palmer added three points from the tee, but missed five other shots at goal. Barnes opened Bristol’s account with a penalty, before scrum-half Richard Harding darted over for a converted try to pull the champions to within a point. When Bath winger Barry Trevaskis was penalised for an early tackle on Alan Morley in injury time, Barnes had a shot for glory. It was only 30 yards from the posts, but the ball drifted wide. He went on to join Bath and become a legend in blue, black and white.
May 5, 2003, Ashton Gate Bristol 30 Bath 20
When the two rivals met at a packed Ashton Gate in May 2003, there was much more than pride at stake. Bristol were bottom of the Premiership table, Bath were one place above them and there were only two games left of the season. A Premiership record attendance of 20,793 meant kick-off was delayed. After half an hour Bristol were 10-6 down, but a converted Daryl Gibson try meant it was 13-13 at the break. Inspired Argentine international Felipe Contepomi ran in two tries in the second half to help his side win 30-20 and leapfrog Bath in the table with only one game of the season left. It was Bath who had the last laugh when their 24-12 win over newcastle Falcons meant Bristol were relegated after a 41-21 defeat at London Irish.
February 25, 1989, the Rec Bath 14 Bristol 12
This West Country derby – a Pilkington Cup quarter-final – was played in a bog at the Rec. The pitch was so waterlogged the hosts wanted the match postponed, but referee Andrew Mason and the visitors – who had a handy pack – wanted it to go ahead. Bath were 12-4 down at half-time; Jonathan Webb having slotted two penalties and converted his own try. simon halliday released Jeremy Guscott for the hosts’ first score and a pair of penalties from former Bristol playmaker stuart Barnes early in the second half made it 10-12. With three minutes left, Bristol had a scrum close to their line, but the ball squirted out of the set-piece and in the liquid mud scrum-half Richard hill reacted quickest and pounced to score the winner.
December 27, 2006 Ashton Gate Bristol 16 Bath Rugby 6
It was another Premiership attendance record for a club venue when 21,203 fans filled Ashton Gate. Bristol led 8-6 at the break courtesy of a Gareth Llewellyn try and Dave hill penalty to two Olly Barkley penalties. With Bath temporarily down to 14 men when Peter short was sin-binned, hill slotted a second penalty to edge Bristol five points clear. Opposing hookers Mark Regan and Lee Mears both saw yellow in the second half before hill extended the hosts’ lead. The hosts made sure they went back to the top of the table when powerful winger Lee Robinson gathered a perfect crossfield kick from hill and scored Bristol’s second try late on.