Bath record first win of the season over 14 man Worcester

Bath………….22

Tries: Rokoduguni, Ojomoh, De Glanville Cons: Bailey 2 Pen: Bailey

Tries: Shillcock, Batley, Simpson Cons: Smith 2

HT 14-19

Bath’s first win of the season came against a defiant Worcester Warriors side who played nearly the whole match with 14 men

Warriors found themselves on the back foot just 75 seconds in when Scotland and Lions prop Rory Sutherland was sent off. After long deliberation by referee Craig Maxwell-Keys over television replays, Sutherland was deemed to have illegally made contact with the head of Bath’s Will Stuart.

Bath’s Semesa Rokoduguni opened the scoring shortly after when he went over in the corner. Max Ojomoh then crossed in the first half for Bath. But, it was Worcester who took a surprise lead before the break.

But Worcester showed grit and responded first with a try from full-back Shillcock. Lock Batley and scrum-half Simpson then scored for a spirited Warrior either side of Bath’s second try.

Despite the man disadvantage, Warriors led 19-14 at the interval.

BATH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 09: Andrew Kitchener of Worcester Warriors claims the lineout over Charlie Ewels of Bath during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Worcester Warriors at The Recreation Ground on January 09, 2022 in Bath, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Bath created more of their own problems in the second half when Josh Bayliss was sin-binned for collapsing a Worcester maul. When a man down, Bath were fortunate to not fall further behind.

Bath levelled the scores when full-back De Glanville crossed for their third try, going over in the corner from Rokoduguni’s offload.

Orlando Bailey kicked Bath into a 22-19 lead in the 69th minute. Worcester could not add a losing bonus point to their first half tally which they may well have deserved for their efforts. The Warriors kept fighting until the final whistle, just falling short.

Bath win but a bit of a hollow victory to be honest. A v poor performance v 14 men
— Jon Newcombe (@RugbyTimes) January 9, 2022

Despite it being their first win, Bath remain rock bottom of the Premiership. However, the win did end Bath’s longest sequence without a win in the Premiership.

Today, Bath were awarded two points for their cancelled trip to London Irish on January 3rd 2022.

It wasn't pretty, but we got there…

Thank you for your ongoing support – that one was for YOU! 💙 pic.twitter.com/eqYPXArjNL
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) January 9, 2022

Bath: De Glanville; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Ojomoh, Prydie; Bailey, Fox; Boyce, Doughty, Stuart, McNally, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Richards, Bayliss.

Replacements: Du Toit, Schoeman, Rae, Spencer, Williams, Simpson, Clark, McConnochie.

Sin-bin: Bayliss (46).

Worcester: Shillcock; Humphreys, Venter (co-capt), Beck, Van der Merwe; Smith, Simpson; Sutherland, Annett, Judge, Batley, Kitchener, Hatherell, Hill (co-capt), Kvesic.

Replacements: Baldwin, Waller, Tyack, Garvey, Dodd, Chudley, Morris, Doel.

Sent-off: Sutherland (2).

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU).