Amazing Mr Wilson gives Bath last word
MAKESHIFT fly-half James Wilson was the hero for Bath as his perfect kicking display helped them claim a dramatic late win against Sale Sharks at the Rec.
Wilson replaced Bath’s third choice number ten Josh Lewis after he picked up a head injury in training in midweek.
Yet former Northampton Saints man Wilson was nerveless from the tee and his conversion in the dying seconds of the game secured a 33-32 victory against Sharks.
Todd Blackadder, Bath’s director of rugby, was delighted his side held out after being on the wrong end of two one-point defeats at the Rec earlier this season.
He said: “We’ve been in really close games at home this season where things haven’t gone our way, but we stayed in the fight. The last 15 minutes of ball retention was probably the difference for us.”
Bath came out of the gate with a point to prove following a disappointing performance against Newcastle at Kingston Park.
Elliott Stooke caught the kick off and charged at Sale’s defence, which gave away an easy penalty for Wilson to open his scoring right in front of the posts.
A break from Cooper Vuna then set up another three-pointer for Wilson in a lightning fast start for Bath.
But Sale soon got a grip on the game and silenced the Bath faithful when Will Addison escaped the tackle of Matt Garvey and set up Denny Solomona for the game’s opening try.
After taking the lead somewhat against the run of play through Faf de Klerk’s conversion, the momentum swung in favour of the visitors.
Ross Batty’s high tackle set up another attack and, from the lineout, the ball was spread wide to Marland Yarde, who had the pace to touch down in the corner.
Bath and Sale traded further penalties as the discipline of both sides left a lot to be desired, before the hosts finally crossed the whitewash when Taulupe Faletau set up Zach Mercer.
Their lead did not last long, though, with Will Hurrell giving away a penalty on the stroke of half-time in front of the posts to allow Sale to edge 18-16 ahead at the interval.
Obano was penalised again at the start of the second half as Sharks extended their lead, but Josh Bayliss then crashed over the tryline after Bath piled on the pressure with multiple phases.
More sloppy play from both sides saw de Klerk and Wilson swap three penalties, before Solomona appeared to secure victory for Sale with a stunning piece of individual play.
The winger took the ball with one hand from a pass that was behind him from de Clerk, chipped the ball over Tom Homer and collected it before touching down.
De Klerk’s missed conversion proved crucial, however, and following relentless Bath pressure, Mercer slipped through the Sale defence for his second try in the 79th minute.
With Bath’s top four aspirations in the balance, Wilson stepped up to kick the winning points with just seconds left on the clock as the hosts completed a remarkable comeback.
The win for Todd Blackadder’s side kept them in the top four race as they leapfrogged West Country rivals Gloucester to move up to fifth in the Aviva Premiership.