Bath secure play-off spot
Bath clinched the final Guinness Premiership play-off place in style with a 39-3 victory over Leeds Carnegie at the Rec.
By Graeme Mair
Last Updated: 09/05/10 10:24am
Bath clinched the final Guinness Premiership play-off place in style with a 39-3 victory over Leeds Carnegie at the Rec.
Needing a win to guarantee fourth in the final table, Bath made no mistake as Nick Abendanon (2), Michael Claasens, Matt Banahan and Joe Maddock all scored tries.
Inside centre Olly Barkley added 14 points with the boot, while Leeds fly-half Ceiron Thomas kicked a penalty for his side's only points.
The result completed a remarkable turnaround for Bath, who won just once in the league prior to December but have finished off their Premiership campaign with 11 victories from 12 since Christmas.
They now face a trip to play table-toppers Leicester Tigers in the semi-final on May 16.
Battle
Bath could not quite find their usual fluency during an evenly contested and scoreless opening quarter-of-an-hour, not helped by the early exit of hooker Lee Mears with an injury.
The game came to life in the 17th minute when the video referee ruled Bath lock Danny Grewcock had been unsuccessful in his efforts to ground the ball between two tacklers.
But the increasing pressure being placed on the visitors' defence told shortly afterwards when former England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, making his final appearance for Leeds, was sent to the sin-bin for an early tackle right on his own line.
And Bath took advantage of the extra man in the 22nd minute, full-back Abendanon crossing out wide after the ball had been swiftly spun from left to right through the hands of stand-off Butch James and Barkley to exploit an overlap.
Barkley slotted the extras and a 25th-minute penalty to extend the hosts' lead to 10-0 and, with early nerves now settled, they started to force the pace.
The video referee was again required to rule out a try, this time James unable to touch down after being rolled onto his back.
Referee Martin Fox was forced to hand over the whistle to his assistant David Rose due to a hamstring injury, a change that appeared to go down well with Bath as they immediately went in for a second try.
Number eight Luke Watson swung off the back of a scrum and released scrum-half Claasens, who eased through some weak tackles on the way to the line.
Barkley's simple conversion gave Bath a 17-0 advantage, which they held through to half-time without alarm.
Adventurous
Two further Barkley penalties sandwiched Leeds' first - and only - points, a penalty from Thomas, as the West Country men appeared happy to sit on their lead during the early stages of the second half.
But a more adventurous approach soon returned to their play and the points began to flow once again with two tries in four minutes from Banahan and Abendanon.
Winger Banahan outpaced Thomas on the outside down the left flank and Abendanon finished off a flowing passage of play in the right corner.
Barkley converted both and a fitting finale was provided with a fifth try in the 73rd minute, Maddock - who was making his final home appearance before moving to Italy next season - started and finished yet another slick move to score in the right corner.
