Five-try show bags first win of season
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Bath Rugby overcame the early loss of two of their key players to pick up their first win of the Gallagher Premiership season with a demolition of hosts Worcester.
After a home defeat to Newcastle and a thrashing at Exeter, the Blue, Black & Whites badly needed a win – but when they lost Josh Matavesi and Rhys Priestland to injuries in the first quarter, their chances did not look particularly promising.
However, aided by the Warriors’ profligacy, their impressive display was rewarded with tries from Zach Mercer, Max Wright, Josh Mcnally, Elliott Stooke and Semesa Rokoduguni. Scrum-half Ben Spencer added four conversions.
Perry Humphreys and Nick David scored Worcester’s tries, with both converted by Billy Searle, while Duncan Weir kicked a penalty.
Worcester began strongly, with a couple of lively bursts from wing Humphreys giving them some early pressure, and they were rewarded with the first score when Weir kicked a simple penalty.
Bath then suffered two further setbacks in quick succession when centre Matavesi and stand-off Priestland were both forced to leave the field with head injuries.
Weir’s penalty was the only score of the quarter in which Warriors had the better of matters, and it was Bath that scored the opening try when Mercer forced his way over from close range.
The first half was continually interrupted by treatment for players, which restricted the game’s flow, but Worcester missed a golden chance when flanker Tom Dodd tore through the visitors’ defence only to go it alone and the chance was lost.
It proved costly as Bath then scored their second try when Oli Morris failed to take Weir’s pass and replacement Wright was on hand to seize possession, race away and score.
Worse was to follow for Worcester when Mcnally finished off a run of forward drives for Bath’s third, with Spencer again converting for a 21-3 interval lead.
After the restart, Bath looked to have scored a fourth when Spencer crossed, only for TMO replays to show Mercer had knocked on when
picking up from a scrum.
Worcester’s cause was not helped when lock Anton Bresler picked up a yellow card for repeated team infringements.
Bath immediately took advantage, with lock Stooke going over for the bonus-point try.
The visitors sealed victory when
Spencer darted from a maul to give Rokoduguni an easy run-in.
Worcester, helped by a yellow card for Bath flanker Josh Bayliss, rallied in the final quarter to score tries from Humphreys, their best player, and David, but it was still an afternoon to forget for the errorridden Warriors.