Cipriani lays on feast for England’s Eddie
THERE will have been few more entertaining games in the 136 years these old rivals have been knocking lumps out of each other than this pulsating affair, where a draw and three points apiece was probably the right result.
Gloucester, with MOM Danny Cipriani pulling the strings in front of Eddie Jones, started like a team on a mission and ran in three tries as the home side struggled to stay with them for much of the first half.
Bath finally caught fire in the 39th minute – at exactly the same time as a club burger van in the carpark – when Semesa Rokodugini crossed for a well-taken try against the backdrop of aromatic black smoke floating over the Rec.
After the break, Bath – particularly their pack – were an entirely different team as they took control of proceedings and staged a remarkable comeback.
Hooker Tom Dunn crossed for a couple of tries after Rhys Priestland and Billy Twlevetrees had exchanged penalties before former Gloucester lock Elliott Stooke crossed for what seemed to be the winning try.
Gloucester replied with one last spirited attack and had drawn a penalty advantage when they moved the ball right and Cipriani launched a remarkable ‘Hail Mary’ pass, which Jason Woodward seized on to send former Bath favourite Matt Banahan steaming in for a try.
Billy Twelvetrees coolly kicked the conversion in the final scoring act of a compelling game.
Gloucester’s early dominance had suggested only one possible result but this is a derby match that doesn’t always follow the obvious script.
The visitors’ first try came through Ruan Ackermann after Cpriani had launched an attack from deep in his half with a run and chip which got Gloucester on the front foot. Bath were scrambling madly but Gloucester stayed cool and eventually the South African forced his way over from short range.
Cipriani went off straight after the try for an HIA having collided with colleague Lewis Ludlow and copping an accidental elbow in his face for his troubles, but was soon back in the groove on his return.
This time, with Henry Thomas isolated in defence, he cleverly picked out Ackermann with a perfectly timed pass to send the flanker galloping over by the posts from 40 yards for a deceptively simple try.
In terms of possession and territory Bath were right in it, but Gloucester were showing New Zealand-like efficiency in taking their chances and they again demonstrated that when Callum Braley went in for a third try after a ruthless clear-out by Twelvetrees had freed up quick ball.
The Gloucester captain kicked his third conversion and the match seemed done and dusted, but as the smell of incinerated burgers wafted over the pitch Bath finally demonstrated some real hunger for the fray.
Roko scored the try, but it owed much to the invention of Freddie Burns who finished off a long period of pressure by choosing his moment to fire out a perfect pass left to right for his wing to cross.
Burns added a touchline conversion to ensure Bath finished a difficult 40 minutes on a high – but even better was to come.