Van Graan proud of defensive show
Bath Rugby proved that even with a changed-up side they can go toe-to-toe with last season’s beaten Premiership finalists Sale Sharks on their home turf, but ultimately fell short at the Salford Stadium, losing 11-9.
Sale are almost unbeatable at home, losing just once in the last two years in the league, and a try from Jonny Hill and two penalties from the boot of George Ford ensured they improved that impressive record on a cold Friday night.
Bath, once again, were in the game to the last play thanks to three penalties from the boot of Finn Russell, who was 100 percent off the tee, but no points in the second half means Johann van Graan’s side made the long trek home with just a losing bonus point and a patchwork of bruises to show from their heroic defensive effort.
Speaking post-match, Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: “That was number one and two in the league literally fighting it out for 80 minutes and I am immensely proud of this group to come here to a place where they haven’t lost for 11 games. To lead for 76 minutes, I was very disappointed we lost this game. It was a real battle out there.
“Tonight wasn’t the night for try scoring. I would love us to score tries every game but this game had a different character to it, it was always going to be a battle and they gave us the respect we deserve, and we gave it to them as well.
“I am proudest of the defensive effort, that shows your confidence and commitment. We have scored some phenomenal tries this season but defence shows your commitment and belief and we got that from all 23 players and the turnovers won in our 22 were evidence of that.”
Championship rugby is rarely the prettiest on display. While the TV cameras were all at Franklin’s Gardens watching two of the Premiership’s razzle-dazzle sides in Northampton and Harlequins throw the ball around, it was a cagey, grittier affair in the top-ofthe-table clash in the north.
The only try of the first half came from out of favour England lock Hill who burst out of a driving maul from a close-range lineout to power over the line.
But the real story of the first half was the battle for territorial superiority as both sides traded high up and under kicks with the meaty packs taking lumps out of each other in the middle third of the pitch. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson labelled the physicality displayed by both sides as ‘monstrous.’
It was Bath who shaded both contests in those areas in the first half, meaning when they won penalties, on three occasions they were in range for Russell to knock over, two from close range and one from 40m out.
But on a freezing night, Sale came out with the hotter hand in the second half and only a series of staggering turnovers won deep in Bath’s 22 kept the hosts out.
But a pair of George Ford penalties off the back of an increasingly dominant scrum earned Sale the win.