Big comeback thwarted in last minutes
Bristol Bombers v Bath
Cotswolds Div 1
Date: 30 November 2014
Final Score Bristol 10:7 Bath
Bristol has found a fine new home at the Civil Service club, and, if it can be permanent, the future for the club in the biggest City in the area looks good.
The pitch itself has a decent slope, something the home team will be able to take advantage of with familiarity.
Bath travelled light with only 12 players able to make the short journey, which on the day gave the home side a decent numerical advantage, plus Bath’s attack had a combined age of well over 100, wise heads, old legs.
The game was pretty even, Bath guilty of carrying the ball too far too often, Bristol guilty of sliding too early, making gaps that could be exploited.
The first quarter saw both sides frustrated by the fumbled last pass or dropped ball, and the visitors should have gone into the break a couple of goals up, instead they fell behind and only managed to tie the game through a well taken shot to the corner from Simon Griffiths after a tight roll from back right of the posts.
Bath effectively lost the game in the second quarter, losing the ball through some sloppy passes which Bristol capitalised upon. Very frustrating, for the captain as the Bath defence were doing a great job of dispossessing for most of the game, only to have the good work spoiled by one mistimed lunge or silly pass either giving the ball away or causing a man down situation. A trademark side dodge and shot by Tom Dexter stopped the rot, but Bristol went into half time with a three-goal cushion.
At Face Mike Carey was struggling to come up with the ball, so the D had to step up and take control, and most importantly get the ball. The third quarter was tight, with Bristol coming out the better and extending their lead to 4. Bath however didn’t feel the game was out of reach, so went into the fourth quarter with some determination.
Despite tired legs Bath set about reducing the deficit, clawing the score back to 8:7 through neat finishes from Luke Wilmot and Nik Roberts in front of goal, one from a lung bursting run up the field from Alex George to set up Roberts on the crease.
With two minutes on the now stopping clock Bath needed the ball and had to take some risks to gain possession, so true to form bedlam ensued, ending up with Will Tilsen the Bath keeper miles from the goal and most of the defence flicking, hacking, kicking anything that remotely resembled a ball, unfortunately the ball found its way to the only Bristol player not involved in the melee, right in front of an empty goal.
Bristol breathed a sigh of relief, and even managed to add another goal in the dying seconds to take a well-deserved win.
Bath played well for most of this game, moving the ball quite well, the team just need to time passes better and trust the receiver of the ball. Another midfield string wouldn’t go amiss either.
MVP – Alex George
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Quarter scores
1st quarter Bristol 1:1 Bath
Griffiths
2nd quarter Bristol 4:1 Bath
Dexter
3rd quarter Bristol 3:2 Bath
Carey, Roberts
4th quarter Bristol 2:3 Bath
Wilmot, Roberts, Roberts
Final Score Bristol 10:7 Bath
Scorers (Assists)
Simon Griffiths 1 (1)
Tom Dexter 1 (1)
Mike Carey 1
Nik Roberts 3
Luke Wilmot 1
Alex George (1)
Referees
Sam Scott (Bristol)
Kyle McHugh (Bristol)