KO
Let’s get his show on the road!! Ford gets the 2014 Amlin Challenge Cup underway…
BATH 0 SAINTS 0
1min
Saints look to clear but when Dickson’s box kick doesn’t make touch, Abendanon runs it back and tacklers fail to roll. Ford lines up the penalty from inside his own half and gives Bath the lead.
BATH 3 SAINTS 0
3mins
Great piece of work from Ken under a precise cross kick but Bath have time to get around the Samoan and wrap him up for a scrum. Saints get a slight nudge on though and Young spills under pressure. Now it’s a Saints scrum in a great position.
BATH 3 SAINTS 0
6mins
Crushing drive from the Saints, Corbisiero getting one over Wilson on the loose head side and it’s an easy leveller for Myler.
BATH 3 SAINTS 3
7mins
It’s now a glorious evening in Cardiff, by the way! The earlier rains have blown away and it’s relatively still in the air as Myler sends a penalty to touch just inside his own half.
BATH 3 SAINTS 3
9mins
Lovely little chip and chase gets Abendanon in behind the Saints but Myler is there to clear up smartly. Bath drive Saints backwards but they regroup and Dickson hooks to touch. The lineout is turned over too and Lawes can run it out from deep.
BATH 3 SAINTS 3
12mins
Ken goes up to challenge again, this time for a Saints ball, but his nudge on Watson concedes a penalty that Ford punts right into the corner. Bath get a high roll on from the maul and while Saints seem to hold it up, a penalty comes and the TMO is also asked to have a look.
BATH 3 SAINTS 3
13mins
No try and rather than go for the kill with the same move, Ford instead points to the posts. He proceeds to stick the ball between them as well.
BATH 6 SAINTS 3
15mins
Poor kick from Young, who attempts to hook forward after neither Rokoduguni or North can cleanly take a high ball. Saints lineout is clean enough but a chance to play ends with a fumble on the deck.
BATH 6 SAINTS 3
16mins
Sweet kick in behind from Ford spirals into touch to peg the Saints back. Bath are contesting the Saints lineout well but it’s another hit for Haywood before Wood churns out a couple of yards peeling away from a ruck.
BATH 6 SAINTS 3
19mins
Bath have a go from a quick lineout and there is ground to be made by Watson. Ford slides a kick through but Foden is right on the ball to clear up and kick well clear. Ford responds with another pinpoint touch finder.
BATH 6 SAINTS 3
21mins
Play sweeps from one end of the field to another, Young opting to keep a Foden kick in but then turned over on the deck. The Saints full back, Dickson and Ken attack and a kick from the latter isn’t dealt with convincingly by Abendanon. It’ll be a Saints 5m scrum.
BATH 6 SAINTS 3
22mins
A frantic phase of play under the Bath posts sees George and Manoa carrying hard, Bath turning over and Young forced to concede a 5m scrum by George. Saints go again at the set piece for a penalty and Myler sensibly kicks it.
BATH 6 SAINTS 6
25mins
George knocks on a high ball under Watson’s challenge and now it’ll be a Bath put in, 35m from the Saints’ line. It’s another huge drive from the men in green and gold quarters though and Dickson hacks forward the loose ball to again pile pressure on Abendanon.
BATH 6 SAINTS 6
27mins
Bath try and from nothing. Saints have the squeeze right on but when play goes right, Ken is isolated and Bath drive over the top. The ball bobbles free and Watson has a free run under the posts, making Ford’s conversion a formality.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
29mins
Saints back in good field possession thanks to Ken’s chase and pressuring of Abendanon. A slick move gets Burrell going wide but his pass to North isn’t precise enough and it’ll be a Bath lineout, one from which Young clears.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
32mins
Burrell punches holes in the Bath midfield and Manoa also has a dart around the fringes. That frees up some space for Myler and the Saints fly half bobbles a lovely little kick to touch. Bath again go through their clearance routine well though.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
36mins
A kicking duel sandwiches Ford’s almost superb grubber through and eventually ends in a Saints lineout on the Bath 10m line. Saints’ set piece remains at 100% and this time they trundle a maul forwards too.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
39mins
Another little moment from Bath as Ford and Watson get their offloading game going. The former takes a late tackle, not dangerous, but it’s a penalty offence nonetheless. It’s a first hook from the tee for For though and the gap remains seven.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
HT
An even game thus far, Saints well on top in the set piece but Bath threatening in the loose. The game’s only try separates the teams - that an opportune score from Watson on turnover ball. Saints will need to find another second half rally if they are to bring home the Amlin Challenge Cup.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
40mins
Second half underway through Myler, 40mins of the Amlin final for the Saints to turn it around…
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
42mins
Bath get the start they would have wanted, Louw winning a penalty at the breakdown and Ford kicking his side into Saints territory. They get a really good maul on the move as well but Young loses control and the game pauses for an injury to Hooper.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
43mins
TMO is asked to check if Hooper was taken out off the ball and it looks like he was. Corbisiero sees yellow, Ford this time slices it wide. Mini let-off for the Saints.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
45mins
That is a crunching hit from Manoa on Watson but Bath recycle it well and string together another attack of offloads and half breaks. Hooper can’t scoop up Joseph’s grubber through though so it will be a lineout, Saints’ ball.
BATH 13 SAINTS 6
47mins
Saints let the ball slip on the counter but George crashes into Abendanon who loses the ball forward. Young picks up from an offside position and Myler brings the 14 men right back into range with a sweet strike from 40m out.
BATH 13 SAINTS 9
49mins
The penalty is frustratingly given straight back when a Saints boot hacks the ball away on the floor. Having sent one left and one right, Ford’s radar continues to malfunction as he pushes a ninth point wide of the uprights.
BATH 13 SAINTS 9
52mins
Ken has briefly left the field to allow Waller on for a scrum after Saints block in midfield. Bath look to swing quick ball across the back line and a kick glides in behind for territorial gain. The TMO is now having a look at an off the ball incident.
BATH 13 SAINTS 9
53mins
Corbisiero returns to the field and brings Ken back with him. Still plenty of time for the Saints to wrestle their way back into this game and Wood gets over the ball for a penalty after a big tackle from George. It’s in Myler’s range, too.
BATH 13 SAINTS 9
57mins
Power strike from 45m by Myler, who quickly goes for the tee. Saints are back within a point.
BATH 13 SAINTS 12
57mins
Fotuali’i has replaced Dickson, while Bath have gone for a new pair of props in Catt and Perenise. George throws a poor pass out to brother Ken and Bath are gifted an attacking lineout on the 22. Saints turnover though.
BATH 13 SAINTS 12
59mins
Saints have upped the intensity here! Ford is swamped and Lawes forces the fly half to fling a hurried pass to Abendanon. Ken in turn smashes the ball from the full back’s grasp and when it is slapped out of Wood’s hands by Abendanon, Myler puts Saints in front for the first time.
BATH 13 SAINTS 15
60mins
Changes on the Saints side, Waller and Denman on, Corbs and Mercey off. Can Saints keep this squeeze up?
BATH 13 SAINTS 15
61mins
Bath are feeling the pressure even without Saints in their faces. Ford and Abendanon again get in a muddle under a hopeful kick from Foden and it is the latter who drops it forwards. Saints scrum, 25m out.
BATH 13 SAINTS 15
63mins
Again the set piece disintegrates as Bath’s front row take a poor driving angle. There’s a brief period of advantage but eventually referee Garces brings play back for Myler to kick penalty number six.
BATH 13 SAINTS 18
64mins
Day is on for Manoa and Bath also replace Devoto with Henson. Saints throw Ford a chance to redeem himself almost straight from the kick off though and this time he seizes the chance with a crisp strike.
BATH 16 SAINTS 18
67mins
It’s tense and edgy as Saints win themselves another penalty. Bath go in at the side of a maul and this time Myler sends it towards the corner, quite brilliantly. It’s a 5m lineout.
BATH 16 SAINTS 18
69mins
Saints throwing everything at the Bath line and winning themselves another penalty advantage. Waller takes his eye off Denman’s pass with the line beckoning but it’s another 5m lineout as play comes back. Time for some cool heads!
BATH 16 SAINTS 18
70mins
Bath have to kill another Saints attack and Perenise is shown yellow for his part. Great chance for the Saints to go for the kill now.
BATH 16 SAINTS 18
72mins
SAINTS TRRRRRYYYYY!!!! They do just that! Bath resist the urge to concede a penalty this time and Dowson is driven over.
BATH 16 SAINTS 23
73mins
Important conversion from Myler and the Saints are now two scores clear, under 8 on the clock.
BATH 16 SAINTS 25
74mins
Bath still have time to get back into this game but they’ll have to do it a man light for the last 7mins. Fotuali’i smashes Abendanon who has taken some rough treatment on his final game for Bath.
BATH 16 SAINTS 25
75mins
Bath penalty, out wide on the right as Haywood departs for McMillan. Big shift from the hooker tonight, who landed 100% of his line outs, but there’s an even bigger shift coming up for the Saints.
BATH 16 SAINTS 25
76mins
SAINTS TRRRRYRYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Breakaway!! Myler is up quickly to intercept and while he doesn’t have the pace to go all the way, Ken and Burrell are there to help him out. The centre slips with the line at his mercy but despite Bath’s best attempts, he smuggles it to Foden and the full back grounds.
BATH 16 SAINTS 30
76mins
Myler’s conversion can make it a full three score gap but it’s miss from Myler. His record stands at 7 from 8, Bath still have a sniff if they can score twice in the final three and a half mins.
BATH 16 SAINTS 30
79mins
Another huge shift from the thousands of travellers in black, green and gold too. They’re looking to sing the lads home as Bath desperately seek a way through.
BATH 16 SAINTS 30
79mins
There’s a knock on from Bath and this game is effectively over. Saints have a scrum and just 50secs to run down to become Amlin Challenge Cup champions.
BATH 16 SAINTS 30
FT
SAINTS HAVE WON THE AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP!!!!!!
BATH 16 SAINTS 30
FT
And it's man of the match Stephen Myler who fittingly ends the game - Saints are Amlin Challenge Cup winners for the second time thanks to an all out second half assault on Bath.
Phil Dowson and Ben Foden bagged the tries after Myler's ever reliable boot edged the men in black, green and gold clear.
BATH 16 SAINTS 30
TIMELINE
2mins BATH Pen Ford 3-0
7mins SAINTS Pen Myler 3-3
14mins BATH Pen Ford 6-3
24mins SAINTS Pen Myler 6-6
28mins BATH Try Watson Con Ford 13-6
40mins BATH Miss pen Ford
HALF-TIME BATH 13 SAINTS 6
44mins SAINTS Yellow Corbisiero
44mins BATH Miss pen Ford
48mins SAINTS Pen Myler 13-9
50mins BATH Miss pen Ford
57mins SAINTS Pen Myler 13-12
60mins SAINTS Pen Myler 13-15
64mins SAINTS Pen Myler 13-18
66mins BATH Pen Ford 16-18
71mins BATH Yellow Perenise
72mins SAINTS Try Dowson Con Myler 16-25
76mins SAINTS Try Foden 16-30
FULL-TIME BATH SAINTS
BATH: Abendanon; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Devoto, Watson; Ford, Young; James, Dunn, Wilson, Hooper (capt), Attwood, Fearns, Louw, Houston
Reps: Guinazu, Catt, Perenise, Day, Mercer, Stringer, Henson, Agulla
SAINTS: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, Dickson; Corbisiero, Haywood, Mercey, Manoa, Lawes, Clark, Wood (capt), Dickinson
Reps: McMillan, A Waller, Denman, Day, Dowson, Fotuali'i, Wilson, Stephenson
Amlin Man of the Match: Stephen Myler
Referee: Jerome Garces (Fra)
Att: 12,483
