By JON NEWCOMBE

BATH defence coach JP Ferreira hopes that the playing surface at The Rec will be much improved following the completion of maintenance work.
The sixth-wettest July on record combined with The Rec’s location next to the River Avon has proved too much for the West Country club’s pitch to handle.
It cut up badly from the start of the opening game of the Premiership season against Newcastle because the roots of the grass hadn’t grown to a sufficient depth to properly knit the surface together.
Conscious of the need to get the best out of the silky t...