Four-try Irish denied by bulls-eye Burns
FREDDIE Burns produced a virtuoso display on his comeback from a three-week suspension as a youthful Bath outfit held off a furious late fightback from London Irish.
The discarded England playmaker set up a superlative try for winger Levi Davis and was 100 per cent with the boot, notching 16 points as Bath kept their noses in front of an Irish side that managed four tries but had to make do with just two bonus points.
Burns said: “I was just happy to be out there after my suspension and I was proud of our youngsters who stood up well. It’s nice to be in an environment where they listen and for them to see the game out as they did at the end was satisfying for the whole team.”
Bath’s pack laid down an ominous marker for the opening try, forcing a scrum penalty from which Burns found the 22. The lineout was worked to Ben Tapuai, who waltzed through midfield with embarrassing ease before rounding last man James Marshall to race home.
Irish were again shoved off their own ball enabling Bath to press, but Exiles saw off the danger before mounting concerted pressure of their own, Theo Brophy Clews leading the charge.
A series of close-range lineouts failed to produce the goods but, after Irish finally secured their own scrum ball at the third attempt, David Paice’s superb offload sent Max Northcote-Green over.
Burns nailed a longrange penalty before Tapuai embarked on another thrilling run, leaving five defenders for dead on his way into Irish’s 22. Irish scrambled back and then withstood another barrage of intense pressure before Marshall threatened from deep.
Marshall and BrophyClews combined before Alex Lewington broke clear. The first-half’s best passage of play ended when Northcote-Green stretched over for his second try from Marshall’s excellent cut-out pass after Paice was thrice involved in the build-up.
Brophy-Clews again failed to convert and Burns soon slotted his second penalty for a 13-10 half-time lead. However, Irish hit the front from the restart when Paice rumbled over following a close-range lineout. Replacement kicker Brendan McKibbin converted.
Bath’s forwards got to work again, forcing a third scrum penalty, and Irish paid the price when Matt Garvey collected the ensuing lineout and Burns directed an inviting crossfield kick that enabled Davis to soar above Marshall and collect for a fine touchdown.
Burns added the touchline conversion for a three point advantage but Irish hit back quickly, this time earning their own scrum penalty. The lineout was worked to Brophy-Clews, whose long, looping pass located Lewington and he put the hammer down to the line.
Burns smashed over his third penalty to restore Bath’s lead, then added another after Fergus Mulchrone had kicked through illegally, before Irish suffered a blow when replacement scrum-half Scott Steele, on for the injured McKibbin (ankle), also departed.
With Ben Ransom deputising at No.9, Irish sought to retrieve a fourpoint deficit and a grandstand finish ensued as the home side forced successive close-range lineouts. But despite much huffing and puffing from the forwards they failed to bring the house down.