Former Prem club cast aside
Bath Ladies made the trip to West London on Remembrance Sunday to face former Premier 15s side Richmond, a team who until this season had been playing in the top tier of the Women’s game.
Despite knowing this would be a tough fixture, Bath travelled in confident mood having had a good start to the season so far. With a few injuries within the squad, Bath gave league debuts off the bench to hooker Jess Sprague and prop Emily Marshall, and also rejigged the midfield back-line with centre Anya Small promoted from the bench.
After the minute’s silence it was Richmond that started with lots of possession but Bath’s defence was quick and powerful, as it would be for the whole game.
Good line speed forced Richmond into retreat, and when a wayward clearance kick found its way to winger Lucy Peters there was only one result as she rounded the covering defence to sprint in from 40m for the game’s first try.
Small duly converted, and added two penalties in the first half too, taking Bath’s lead to 13-0. The first half was a tight affair with some strong work in the forwards from lock Clea Fawcett and flanker Robyn Price, and Bath thought they’d scored on the right but winger Nina Edwards was tackled into touch a metre short.
Although Richmond had more possession, it was Bath that looked more threatening with ball in hand and also had better territory.
The second half started in similar fashion, and when the Richmond scrum-half broke from inside her own half, Bath looked in trouble until full-back Holly Edmonds made an outstanding cover tackle into touch which stifled the danger.
As Richmond began to get frustrated due to Bath’s solid defence, the away side grew more into the game. After a few phases on the Richmond line it was scrum-half Emily Codd that darted over from close range. Soon after, Sprague bashed her way through the wouldbe tacklers to score another try.
Bath were in the ascendancy, expertly marshalled and game managed by fly-half Sarah Holloway and Small. Between them their tactical kicking game kept Bath on the front foot.
Holloway was also rewarded with the team’s first ever 50/22 kick, giving Bath another excellent attacking opportunity.
Needing a fourth try for a bonus point, Bath went for a catch and drive from a lineout and, when stopped short, the ball was recycled through a few phases before Robyn Price dummied and expertly off-loaded to centre Rebecca Wye to dot down in the corner. With the last play of the game, Richmond created an overlap to score their only consolation try in the corner.
Head coach John Gould said: “This was without doubt our best performance of the season so far.
“We were more consistent with all aspects of our game, and showed huge improvement from our last game two weeks ago. It was a real whole-squad performance with all 22 players contributing to our success.”
Players of the game were awarded to Fawcett and Wye. Both players had huge work rates throughout, both on and off the ball.
On Sunday, Bath are in action again at their Lambridge home. The 1st XV welcome top four side Henley, whilst the Second Side welcome Penryn all the way from Cornwall, and would love to see as many supporters there as possible to cheer them on playing some exciting and entertaining rugby.