| After just 30 seconds, Bath had conceded a penalty. The Auch fly half, Benoit Albert took the kick and slotted the ball over the posts. Two minutes later, a high tackle gave Bath the opportunity to even the score and Olly Barkley, making his first appearance since returning from the World Cup, successfully planted it between the posts from the 10 metre line.
Not long after the three points to both sides had appeared on the score board, Bath were penalised for holding on and Albert put Auch in the lead with another penalty kick. After 13 minutes, Barkley’s left foot was put into practice again as Bath were given the opportunity to equalise, belting the ball over to make the score six to each side.
With the clock ticking just past 17 minutes, Matt Stevens, whose Rugby World Cup action had earned him not only the tag line of 'one-to-watch' for the future, but a charity single to boot, passed out to Nick Walshe who slipped the ball to Butch James for an exhilirating try. Barkley converted.
Bath continued to take the ball into Auch’s territory for the rest of the first half and with the back line putting in strong tackles, Bath ensured that any attempts Auch made to intercept were put down with haste. It was not long before the pressure mounting on the hosting team began to tell, and Auch were caught offside after 25 minutes, handing Barkley the ball to take his third penalty kick of the night. Neither team managed to change the numbers on the scoreboard for the remaining 15 minutes of the first half, resulting in a 10-point lead to Bath at half-time.
The second half may not have retained the same vigour and pace as the first, but Bath were certain of ensuring their victory. Within seven minutes, Andy Beattie landed well over the try line, having caught the ball that was kicked by Butch James out to the wing. This offered Bath a further five points on the right-hand of the scoreboard, but Barkley did not convert.
After 60 minutes, and facing Bath’s 15-point lead, Auch finally managed to take the ball into Bath’s 22. It did not stay there for long though and as Barkley was slipped the ball, he blasted it into the top left corner of the pitch. No further score was made by Bath, as Auch managed to clear.
A swift interception by Nick Abendanon gave him the chance to break though the red shirts of the French team, who passed to Alex Crockett out on the wing, and back midfield for Goodman, whose attempted drive was halted by Auch. With Bath being penalised for holding on in the ruck, it gave Auch a moment to collect themselves, but after a dummy from Barkley, who passed to James, Bath were determined to score some further points. Higgins tried to award the side with five more points, and although he went over the line, no try was awarded. With just 8 minutes left, Bath managed to rack up the final seven points needed to secure the storming win, and the visiting team were awarded a penalty try, followed by a Barkley conversion. As the final whistle rang out in the ground, Bath were able to walk away victorious, with a final score of 6 – 28 to Bath.
Bath:
15. Nick Abendanon, 14. Andrew Higgins, 13. Tom Cheeseman, (50, Crockett)12. Olly Barkley, 11. Michael Stephenson, (67, Banahan) 10. Butch James, 9. Nick Walshe, (50, Claassens) 1. Matt Stevens, 2. Lee Mears, (67, Dixon) 3. Paulica Ion, (74, Ovens) 4. Steve Borthwick, (74, Purdy) 5. Peter Short, 6. Andy Beattie, 7. Michael Lipman 8. Zak Feaunati (62, Goodman)
Replacements:
16. Pieter Dixon, 17. Laurence Ovens, 18. Martin Purdy, 19. Chris Goodman, 20. Alex Crockett 22. Matt Banahan
Auch:
15. Leo Pesteil, (35, Couzier) 14. Pierre Aguillon, 13. Mehadji Tidjini, 12. David Spicer, 11. Raphael Bastide (c), 10. Benoit Albert, 9. Lionel Duthil, 1. Mamuka Magrakvelidze, 2. Nicolas Sentous, 3. Guylain Mololo, 4. Tau Tapasu, 5. Jerome Cholley, 6. Antoine Battut 7. Nicolas Bontinck 8. Robins Watchou Tchale
Replacements:
16. Sebastien Bruere, 17. Yoan Marty, 18. Gregory Menkarska, 19. Olivier Caisso, 20. Frederic Medves, 21. Christophe Clarac, 22. Frederic Couzier
Attendance: 3,562
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