Late Vellacott try rescues vital draw for Gloucester

BEN VELLACOTT came off the bench to keep Gloucester in the competition with a try two minutes from the end.

Bath had dominated the second half and looked certain winners until Vellacott’s late effort gave his side an outside chance of semi-final qualification.

Vellacott said: “Bath put us to the sword in the second half but we were able to up the tempo in the last five minutes and when I saw some space, I just went through it.”

His academy coach, Richard Whiffin, said: “Ben sniped over for one of his trademark tries; he’s got some unbelievable ability and is an X-factor.

“It was a scrappy game with the weather making it a kickfest and our errors and ill-discipline made the second half a reversal of the first.”

Gloucester controlled that first half as regular bursts from Darren Dawidiuk and No.8, Freddie Clarke kept Bath on the back foot, enabling lively No.9 Callum Braley to test the defence.

However their only reward was a converted try from Dawidiuk from a line-out drive, giving them a 7-3 half-time lead with a penalty from Rhys Priestland being Bath’s sole response.

Before the interval Priestland and Ben Tapuai had given away too much possession by kicking poorly, but after the restart it was a different story.

They rewarded their now dominant pack, in which Paul Grant was the outstanding performer, with some inventive play and had it not been for heroic defence from Andy Symons and Dan Thomas, Gloucester’s line would have been breached.

As a result Bath had to rely on the kicking of Priestland with his three penalties getting their noses in front.

Hook kept Gloucester in contention with a penalty before Aled Brew scored Bath’s only try.

A kick ahead from Max Clark was collected by Jeff Williams but he was hauled down just short of the line by an excellent tackle from Henry Purdy before the ball was recycled to the other flank where Brew powered over.

From the touchline Priestland missed the crucial conversion as Vellacott’s try left Bath without a win in their three cup fixtures.

Bath boss, Todd Blackadder said: “The competition is about development and we acquitted ourselves well against a more experienced side with the concession of a soft try at the end being the only downside.”