Cokanasiga turns tide for Bath and helps save Blackadder’s job
This was a game that had it all: nine tries, huge swings, controversy, a nearmiraculous comeback and a star-making turn by Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga which may have gone a long way towards securing Todd Blackadder’s position as director of rugby.
For a second successive game, Bath engineered a comeback, this time coming from 10 points down to lead 37-18. However, just as Gloucester snatched a draw at the Recreation Ground the previous week, so Bath suffered another wobble and tries from Joe Marler and Charlie Mulchrone in the last four minutes set up a grandstand finish.
Defeat could have spelt the beginning of the end for Blackadder, but an Aled Brew-led counter-ruck secured their first victory of the season, much to the New Zealander’s relief. “My heart was racing towards the end when Harlequins were in striking distance,” Blackadder said. “Joe was sensational today. We know what he’s capable of and he showed all of that.”
Jamie Roberts opened the scoring for Bath but Danny Care replied and Joe Marchant put Harlequins 15-5 ahead. Zach Mercer barrelled his way over and Burns converted, added a penalty and then a scruffy dropped goal to give Bath the lead.
There then came a moment of magic by Cokanasiga, who juggled Semesa Rokoduguni’s offload and grounded the ball one-handed. The giant wing was at it again early in the second half after some excellent footwork by Freddie Burns and Mercer’s second try looked like it had wrapped things up.