Rhys holds his nerve to settle feisty derby
STUART Hooper hopes Bath can now start climbing the Premiership table in earnest after Rhys Priestland’s dramatic late penalty left Gloucester devastated at The Rec.
The Bath director of rugby was delighted with his side’s character and desire as they won a typically feisty West Country derby which saw both sides have a man sent off.
Gloucester thought they had grabbed a muchneeded win when captain Lewis Ludlow dived over in the corner with just five minutes remaining after good work from Wales’ new hero Louis Rees-Zammit.
But their joy turned to despair when Chris Harris gave away a penalty five yards into the Gloucester half with an off-the-ball hit on Henry Thomas.
Priestland nailed his kick in the pouring rain and Bath celebrated a fourth win of the campaign leaving Gloucester slumped at the bottom of the table with just one victory to their name.
Gloucester played for 72 minutes with 14 men after prop Val Rapava-Ruskin saw red for a dangerous tackle on Josh Bayliss, while Bath lock Mike Williams was also dismissed for a high tackle in the second half.
Hooper said: “There’s usually plenty of incident when we play Gloucester but you don’t normally get two players sent off and another in the sin bin.
“These games are very passionate and no one takes a backwards step but I have no problems with the red cards. It’s a physical game and sometimes players get the tackling technique wrong.
“Strangely, we failed to get energised when they were down to 14 in the first half. We got that try near the end of the half but then lost a man ourselves.
“The players will enjoy this win but it’s got to be the catalyst for better results and performance to come. We must start moving up the table by putting together a few wins on the bounce.”
Gloucester entered the contest in desperate need of a change of fortunes after losing their last three games by small margins. But they suffered the same fate having again threatened and promised so much, despite losing Rapava-Ruskin so early.
The Georgian prop was reckless in his hit on lock Bayliss, with his forearm smashing his Bath rival in the face and referee Wayne Barnes produce a red card.
The blow merely galvinised Gloucester who forced Bath into coughing up two penalties which Billy Twelvetrees happily kicked for an early 6-0 lead. That advantage could have been greater but for determined Bath defence.
Rees-Zammit’s biggest impact of the first half was to leave opposite wing Semesa Rokoduguni heading for the treatment room with his shoulder bandaged after trying to make a heavy hit on the youngster.
Gloucester had looked in little danger until shortly before the break when Bath struck a crucial blow with their first attack. Jonathan Joseph and Tom de Glanville linked to put Taulupe Faletau through for the first try. Priestland converted for 7-6.
The veteran Welsh flyhalf ’s early second-half penalty was soon followed by the second red card of the game as lock Williams caught full-back Kyle Moyle in the face with his shoulder leaving his nose covered in blood.
Priestland and Twelvetrees exchanged further kicking blows before a thrilling final ten minutes saw the game swing one way and then the other. Flanker Ludlow dived over to give Gloucester the lead while Joseph was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on leaving Bath down to 13 men.
But Priestland was given the opportunity to be the hero when Harris tackled Thomas off the ball.