Bath Rugby

The chill wind that swept across the Recreation Ground did little to cool the festive mood as Bath Rugby produced a gritty 25-14 victory over Northampton Saints to ensure that the West Country side ended 2008 exactly where they wanted to be - at the top of the Guinness Premiership table.

Alex Crockett's kick and Matt Banahan's power and pace combined on Saturday afternoon to give Bath a last gasp 24-20 victory and give the blue, black and whites an excellent start to the Christmas and New Year period.

With Toulouse securing victory in Newport, a solid win was essential if Bath Rugby were to hang to the French giant's coat tails and entertain realistic ambitions of qualifying for the Heineken Cup as either pool winners or progressing as one of the two best runners-up.

Bath Rugby won 35-31 against Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken Cup recording a four try bonus point victory as they only just held off the determined visitors to win at The Rec.

Bath came away with a bonus point from the match against Harlequins on Sunday losing 21-14 at the Stoop.

Reeling from the nerves of the last minute victory against Leicester Tigers last weekend, Bath Rugby were determined to get back on track at Franklin's Gardens and maintain top spot in the Guinness Premiership for at least another week and although the final score was 28-28 - Bath managed to do just that.

This 25-21 victory was not a match for the faint-hearted. If Bath Rugby are to lift the Guinness Premiership title for the first time in a decade, they will not want to do so in the heart-stopping fashion in which they defeated the Tigers at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Bath gave a good account of themselves on Friday night but a try from Andrew Higgins and a penalty try awarded for a high tackle on Joe Maddock were unable to prevent Cardiff from claiming a 24-18 home win.

The lights may be going out on the EDF Energy Cup as we know it as event organisers look to revamp the competition for next season, yet Bath Rugby re-ignited their Cup campaign with a 21-24 victory in a stirring encounter at Edgeley Park.