Rousing comeback earns Team Bath a deserved draw at Leeds Beckett in BUCS Super Rugby
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV produced another tremendous show of character as they rallied from 22-5 down to earn a deserved draw at high-flying Leeds Beckett University in Wednesday’s BUCS Super Rugby contest.
In a match played in bitterly cold conditions at West Park RFC, there was little to choose between the teams during a tight first half with the only points coming from a Zach Scott-Gray try for the hosts.
Leeds flew out of the blocks in the second period and quickly increased their lead to 12-0 through a James Elliott try and Kieran Davies conversion but Bath responded with a touchdown of their own through Chris Barry.
However, when Davies kicked a penalty and then converted a try from Robinson to put Leeds 22-5 up on the hour mark, the game looked to be getting away from the visitors.
They refused to accept defeat, though, and two tries in ten minutes from wingers Levi Davis and Finn Murphy, the latter converted by Will Flinn, got them right back in the contest.
Bath – sponsored by IKON Construction and supported by Investigo – now had the upper hand and their endeavour and belief was rewarded in the final minute when Murphy touched down again to level the score at 22-22.
Flinn’s difficult conversion attempt, which would have won the game, was off target but Aaron James, Head of Rugby at the University of Bath, was pleased to take the draw and a four-try bonus point.
“It was a good comeback and another step forward following our win against Hartpury last week – we seem to have developed a knack of scoring late tries,” he said.
“We are still frustrated at not being able to finish off when in good positions but our discipline was much better, we stuck to our gameplan well and I was very pleased with our style of play.”
Bath will looking to build on their positive performances against Hartpury and Leeds Beckett when they welcome Durham University to the Sports Training Village on Wednesday (December 6, 6.30pm).
It is the final home match before the Christmas break and admission is free for spectators.
Match stats
Leeds Beckett University: 15 K Davies, 14 R Hamilton, 13 D Kelly (c), 12 B Dixon, 11 H Robinson, 10 S Fox, 9 J Elliot; 1 R Eveleigh, 2 T Nuku, 3 S Theron, 4 E Ward, 5 A Wadden, 6 J Teague, 7 T Francis, 8 Z Scott-Gray. Replacements: 16 C Cade, 17 X Valentine, 18 S Nel, 19 H Collier, 20 C Venables, 21 C Lloyd, 22 M Waters.
Tries: Scott-Gray, Elliot, Robinson.
Conversion: Davies 2.
Penalty: Davies.
University of Bath: 15 Will Hughes, 14 Finn Murphy, 13 Charlie Dunbar, 12 Craig Duncan, 11 Levi Davis, 10 Will Flinn, 9 Luca Petrozzi; 1 Austin Hay, 2 Tom Doughty, 3 David da Costa, 4 Derryn Jones, 5 Scott Russell, 6 Will Britton (c), 7 Chris Barry, 8 Jack Davies. Replacements: 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Gus Antons, 19 Tom Bottoms, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Louis Mulholland, 22 Max Senior.
Tries: Barry, Davis, Murphy 2.
Conversion: Flinn.
