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Bath close on Premiership's top four by beating Worcester

By PA
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Bath rested many of their big names yet still ran in six tries against Worcester to keep up the pressure on the Gallagher Premiership’s top four. They now sit just a point behind Wasps, but with an extra win under their belts ahead of Sunday’s visit to second-placed Sale.

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Warriors too had to dig deep into their squad to make 14 changes after the defeat at home to Bristol. Yet they took the lead after just six minutes as Billy Searle latched on to a wayward pass from Jack Walker to score under the posts. The fly-half kicked the conversion.

Bath were back on terms almost straight away as Cameron Redpath made ground down the right and Semesa Rokoduguni and Tom de Glanville supported before Will Chudley found Tom Ellis on an unstoppable charge to the line. Ex-Worcester player Josh Matavesi converted but missed a straightforward penalty soon after.

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Bath went ahead on the scoreboard as the pack made the most of a five-metre scrum and Elliott Stooke was heaved over the line, Matavesi converting for 14-7.

Few players were more conspicuous in the first quarter than Bath’s energetic number eight Zach Mercer. Except that he then dropped the restart kick at the feet of Samoa wing Ed Fidow who scored with ease. Searle’s kick struck the post.

Neither side had settled into much of a rhythm but Worcester had the most dangerous runner on the field in Ollie Lawrence, the only player retained after the home defeat at Bristol. However, their cause was undermined by the loss of skipper Will Butler on 24 minutes, stretchered off with his left leg in a pneumatic splint.

Bath added a third try through hooker Walker on 32 minutes and de Glanville rewarded some serious grunt from his forwards with the bonus point score shortly after. Matavesi converted. Searle’s penalty on the stroke of half-time offered some encouragement to the visitors. Yet given a penalty to touch five metres out from the Bath line early in the second half, he somehow hooked the ball the wrong side of the corner flag.

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Stooke grabbed his second on the blindside of a ruck before Matavesi took the direct route to the line, unceremoniously bumping two defenders out of his way to clear space. With both tries converted by the fly-half, Bath led 40-15 after 53 minutes but there was no further scoring. Worcester enjoyed plenty of possession but just could not make a meaningful dent in a resolute Bath defence.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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