Champion result in a season of struggle
One way to describe Bath’s season prior to this game against Harlequins would be not very successful. The blue, black and whites entered the game against the champions with just one win to their name but managed to double their tally with 21-17 victory.
Prior to the game, Quins scrumhalf Danny Care had signed a new contract to extend his 16-year career at the club for a further season, while Jonathan Joseph received his 150th cap for Bath.
For both sides, the absence of Six Nations players was felt throughout, with Bath also harbouring injuries to more than 20 players throughout the squad. The crowd of 14,500 were sat in the light rain bursting with anticipation and a backwards spillage on the half-way line, 55 seconds in, showed the weather was proving an issue already.
Within the first two minutes, Care put a kick through the defence driving Quins to half-way where they were awarded a penalty scrum. Bath gave away four further penalty scrums but a chip over the defence that dropped before the line was the closest Quins came to scoring.
The visitors did finally break through on 11 minutes as Dino Lamb sealed the try, with which Tommy Allan easily converted, although that was the final part Lamb would play in the game. The best chance in the first half for Bath came from a lineout in the Quins half that led to a kick through which was collected on the try-line by the visiting full-back.
Minutes later, Tyrone Green was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and although Ben Spencer consistently put through good kicks, no one was there to finish. With ten minutes of the half remaining, Bath were given two penalties which brought the score to 7-6.
Nathan Hughes was constantly making huge tackles and Spencer tested Green throughout with high balls that he was struggling to catch. In the final five minutes, Bath became more aggressive in the tackle and rucks but Quins had the final say when Cadan Murphy managed an unconverted try right on half-time.
One of the problems for Bath on the day was failing to take restarts, instead just watching the ball bounce and by the time they did receive the ball, Quins were there and ready to turnover - although Semesa Rokoduguni was winning the aerial battle against Green.
A beautiful pass from Ajomo to Will Muir saw him dance through the defence to score their first try of the night which was easily converted. Bath thought they had their second 15 minutes in, but it was denied as the referee made a questionable decision to say it had been held up.
Almost instantaneously, Bath came back with a training ground move to secure Muir his second score which this time went unconverted. With less than ten minutes remaining, Quins substitute Hammond scored a well-worked try to bring the visitors to within a point after Allan had missed the crucial conversion.
With the crowd on the edge of their seats, Bath won a penalty from a scrum in the last couple of minutes. Spencer stepped up and easily slotted to secure the 21-17 victory over the reigning champions.