Homer keeps Bristol waiting for that win
BATH fended off hardworking Bristol to snaffle the West Country spoils at the Rec on Friday night.
Mark Tainton’s men are inching closer to end what is now an eight-match Premiership losing streak, but they still don’t have the confidence or cutting edge to unlock a miserly defence like the one Todd Blackadder is crafting.
The fans had waited more than seven years to see this fierce league rivalry renewed and, with downpours before kick-off, it was never going to be the most attractive encounter.
Winger Jack Wilson – Bath’s new recruit from Otago – scored the only try of the 16-9 victory in front of a record Rec crowd of 14,241.
Tom Homer was flawless from the tee, slotting three penalties and a conversion.
Academy fly-half Billy Searle, making his first Premiership start for Bristol, kicked nine first-half points for the visitors.
Having been released by Wales to get minutes in his legs and lungs, Taulupe Faletau made his first start for Bath since injuring knee ligaments at Northampton Saints on the opening day of the season.
He put in a solid, if unspectacular display.
“I’m probably more relieved than anything,” admitted Bath’s director of rugby Blackadder.
The hosts, because of injury or international duties, fielded the youngest squad the Premiership has seen all season and the demographic of their start ing XV reduced further when 20-year-old Adam Hastings replaced Rhys Priestland in the 19th minute after a heavy tackle from Olly Robinson left him with an injury to his right knee.
Bristol belied their league position early on, enjoying plenty of ball and territory. But they didn’t have the precision out wide to get in behind their hosts.
Eventually, Bath worked their way into the contest and Homer put them in front.
It wasn’t long before Bristol were level though, Will Hurrell’s jackal over Faletau earning a penalty.
The try was created when Matt Banahan stepped in at first receiver in the 27th minute. His 6ft 7in frame attracted attention, allowing him to send blindside Tom Ellis scything between front-rowers Jamal Ford-Robinson and Marc Jones.
Ellis had options right and left, and teed up Wilson for his second try in three games.
Bristol edged the lineout battle, while Nathan Catt’s dominance over Ford-Robinson meant the hosts won the scrummaging contest.
With both sides failing to secure quick, clean ruck ball, at times the contest was played out by the kickers.
And, after the break, the hosts played the territory game smartly to strangle any momentum Bristol hoped to build up.
The only points came from Homer’s boot when Kyle Traynor was penalised for obstruction at a lineout.
Bristol survived going down to 14 men when former Wellington Hurricane Jason Woodward was yellow-carded for killing the ball.
They recovered to hammer away at Bath in the last five minutes. Several pick and drives went close before a Hurrell knock-on allowed the hosts to kick the ball dead for victory and an overnight spot at the top of the table.
Bristol’s acting head coach Tainton had to make do with a bonus point. He said: “We never gave up and came very close to scoring a try for the draw.”