Hot Watson brings Bath to the boil
ENGLAND WING’S RETURN SPARKS A SIX-TRY ROUT
What had been the Premiership’s bluntest attack transformed itself to double their total of six tries in their previous five matches and record their first away win of the campaign.
With Watson looking razorsharp after a month out with a knee injury, Bath cut loose with five tries in the opening half hour against a slipshod Irish to leapfrog the Exiles in the table.
“I loved it. I was buzzing to get back playing with these boys, so to be out here playing on this pitch was awesome,” saidWatson.
“I think it has been one or two things over the past four or five weeks that didn’t quite click. We were working on those little things and we let it all out today.
“There’s no point in us winning today and not backing it up next week. There’s still stuff to improve.”
Not every defence will be as obliging as that of Irish but yesterday’s deluge came as a welcome confidence infusion for a Bath side who are now up to seventh in the table.
Watson’s hack-on score in the eighth minute, which added to Beno Obano’s opener, delivered a double blow for Irish as full-back Paddy Jackson pulled his hamstring forlornly attempting to down the England wing. Semesa Rokoduguni added a third before things took another turn for the worse for the Exiles when Albert Tuisue was sinbinned for a deliberate offside that prevented what would have been a certain score for Jamie Roberts. A penalty try was awarded and, with the No8 off the field, Bath took advantage of the extra space to score the try of the half through Will Chudley after two delightful touches in the build-up by Jonathan Joseph. What with centre Terrence Hepetema going off injured and his replacement Tom Fowlie lasting only four minutes before following him chase with concussion, it was a leading candidate for the Premiership’s most calamitous half of the season.
For Wallaby second-row Adam Coleman, making his home debut, he must have wondered what he had walked into. Had Irish held their Christmas party the previous night? It looked like it when Nick Phipps – another Australian international – passed directly into the face of team-mate James Stokes and then sent a pass five metres forward in the space of an embarrassing personal minute.
Bath were only too happy to take advantage of their hosts’ seasonal generosity and, when Stephen Myler mis-hit a flabby cross-kick to no one in particular, man-of-the-match Tom Homer raced away to score from his own 22 with half an hour still to play.
The only blips for Bath were a yellow card for Christian Judge for a tip-tackle on Allan Dell and the enforced second-half withdrawals of Roberts with a shoulder injury and Sam Underhill for a concussion check.
While Irish did manage a consolation score through Coleman, they just didn’t cut it. LONDON IRISH – Try: Coleman. Con: Myler. Pen: Myler. BATH - Tries: Obano, Watson, Rokoduguni, Chudley, Homer, pen try. Cons: Priestland 3.