Another quick four-try salvo sets Bath on their way to home BUCS Super Rugby victory over Swansea
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV made a successful first defence of the BUCS Super Rugby Challenge Cup as they beat Swansea 36-19 on their home 3G Pitch.
The Bath Building Society-sponsored hosts, who took ownership of the cup following their record 77-14 victory at previous holders Cardiff the previous week, once again ran in four tries inside the opening 20 minutes.
Freddy Rossigneux’s second-minute try was quickly cancelled out by Swansea, who briefly edged ahead thanks to a successful conversion, before further tries from Sam Winters, Rossigneux and Rory McKnight, plus two conversions from James Linegar, put Bath firmly in control.
There was time for Iwan Coyle to touch down before half-time, giving Bath a 29-7 advantage which they extended five minutes into the second period through another Winters try and Linegar conversion.
They were to be the home side’s final points of the evening but while Swansea pulled back two tries, the second being converted from the last kick of the game, a victory that moves third-placed Bath to within two points of leaders Exeter was never in doubt.
The next club to challenge Bath on their home turf will be Cardiff Met, who visit the 3G Pitch for the last fixture before Christmas on Wednesday 10th December (6.30pm kick-off, free entry).
Before then, Bath – who are also supported by Team Bath partners Rengen – make the journey to Yorkshire to face Leeds Beckett on Wednesday 3rd December (2pm).
Match stats
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Oscar Thomas, 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Rory McKnight, 5 Isaac Sprenger, 6 Connor Treacey (c), 7 Iwan Coyle, 8 Will Keylock; 9 Isaac Mears, 10 James Linegar, 11 Freddy Rossigneux, 12 Luc Anfield, 13 Jamie Howick, 14 Sam Winters, 15 Austin Emens. Replacements: 16 Evan Gallagher, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Ollie Critchley, 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 20 Alex Ridgway, 21 Roman Andrews, 22 Will Roue, 23 Jack Harrison.
Tries: Rossigneux 2, Winters 2, McKnight, Coyle.
Conversions: Linegar 3.
Swansea starting XV: 1 Theo Malik, 2 Tommy Connolly, 3 Harry Peckett, 4 Theo Currie, 5 Jake Roberts, 6 Cian Tappan, 7 Oliver Jones, 8 Evan Weston; 9 Kai Inker, 10 Tal Rees, 11 Noah Mason, 12 James Price (c), 13 Dom Smith, 14 Giovanni Way, 15 Freddie Drake-Lee. Replacements: 16 Daf Ebsworth, 17 Joe Roberts, 18 Mathew Pryce, 19 Oliver Lewis, 20 Tom Boggemann, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Llew O’Brien, 23 Harry Gimson.
Tries: Drake-Lee, Roberts 2.
Conversions: Rees, O’Brien.
