Doughty’s all-time top scorer
Captain Tom Doughty became the all-time BUCS Super Rugby leading try-scorer as the Team Bath men’s 1st XV suffered a second narrow defeat of the 2018-19 season at the hands of Durham in London on Friday. Sports Performance student Doughty burrowed over from a trademark lineout catch-and-drive to notch his 17th try in the league competition and Team Bath’s second of the game after fellow Bath Rugby Academy player Jack Davies had forced his way over moments earlier. Those tries, both converted by Will Partington, came midway through a rollercoaster first half and saw Team Bath close the gap to 17-14 after Durham had made a blistering start to the match, played at Rosslyn Park RFC. Tom Catterick kicked an early penalty and added the extras to tries from Myles Rawstron-rudd and Paddy Mcduell, who intercepted a loose pass to touch down. Team Bath responded brilliantly and, after the tries from Davies and Doughty, were well on the front foot but an incisive break by number seven Chris Johnson provided the opportunity for Mcduell to jink through for Durham’s third try in the 35th minute. The conversion attempt was brilliantly charged down and Team Bath thought they had scored with the last attack of the first half, only for the referee to adjudge their rolling maul had been held up on the line. Partington and Catterick exchanged penalties in the opening stages of an evenly-matched second half before Durham gave themselves some extra breathing space with 12 minutes to go. A brilliant tackle by Partington thwarted a charge by replacement Ben Stevenson but centre Matt Welsh was able to pick up and break down the blind side to score in the corner. Team Bath cranked up the pressure in the closing stages and, after Marjin Huis was yellow-carded, forced a penalty try with 90 seconds remaining. Josh Basham was also sent to the bin but, despite being down to 13 men, Durham were able to hang on for a 30-24 victory.