MATCH REPORT: Bath Rugby 24 Cardiff Blues 13
Bath Rugby booked their place in the semi-finals of the LV= Cup with a game to spare thanks to a bonus-point win over Cardiff Blues this afternoon.
The five-point haul, coupled with Sale Sharks' defeat of Worcester Warriors, means Bath have an unassailable lead at the top of Pool 3 ahead of next Friday's final group-phase game at Leicester Tigers.
Mike Ford's side crossed twice in each half at The Rec in a game heavy restricted by lashing rain and the swirling wind.
Alafoti Fa'osilivia and Micky Young touched down in opening 40 minutes before Gavin Henson got his maiden first-team try for Bath soon after coming on as a second-half replacement. Guy Mercer completed Bath's count before Dan Fish got a consolation for Cardiff at the death.
The visitors got the first points on the board when fly-half Simon Humberstone fired over a penalty inside five minutes.
Bath were quick to respond and it did not take them long to grab the opening try of the afternoon. Tom Heathcote punted a penalty to the corner and Ryan Caldwell claimed Ross Batty's throw. The home pack orchestrated a big drive Samoan flanker Fa'osiliva claimed the touchdown as they powered over the whitewash.
The wind began to cause havoc for the kickers and Heathcote's conversion attempt drifted wide, while Humberstone was unable to split the posts from 35m with what would usually have been a routine penalty soon afterwards.
It took Bath until the half-hour mark to show what they could do with the ball in hand and the back-line showed excellent juggling skills to get them moving forwards. They eventually won a penalty and Heathcote went to the corner, with the lineout catch-and-drive working wonders again.
Caldwell took the catch, the pack muscled their way forwards and when the ball squirted out, scrum-half Young pounced to dart through a gap and over the line. Heathcote converted from in front of the sticks.
Cardiff then should have finished the half with a try of their own when Horacio Agulla's clearing kick was charged down. The visitors went wide but Owen Williams was unable to capitalise on a three-on-one chance.
The Blues instead had to settle for a second Humberstone penalty to cut the gap to 12-6 as they headed for the warmth of the changing rooms.
Early in the second half Wales international Henson got a first Bath try, just four minutes after coming on as a replacement. The hosts pounded the Cardiff tryline but were kept at bay until Martin Roberts picked out Henson and he muscled his way over from close range. Heathcote converted.
The game then stagnated for a while after a flurry of replacements but Cardiff should have had a score after a lightning break up the right-hand side. The final pass to Ellis Jenkins was poor, though, and the home defence got back to cover.
With ten minutes to play Ollie Devoto was shown a yellow card for killing the ball on the Bath line. His side would finish the game a man short but the hosts were still next over the whitewash when Heathcote sent a penalty to the corner.
For the third time of the afternoon, a lineout catch-and-drive proved decisive. The home pack mounted another powerful charge which the Blues' defence could not hold and flanker Mercer got the score as they smashed over the whitewash. Heathcote's conversion came back off the posts.
Cardiff got a consolation score with two minutes to play as they attacked with pace. Gavin Evans had the home defence scrambling and he fed Dan Fish to sidestep his way over the whitewash. Humberstone brought the game to a close with the conversion.BATH RUGBY: Agulla, Lane (Henson 45), Banahan, Devoto, Biggs, Heathcote, Young (Roberts 41), Perenise (Palma-Newport 68), Batty (Guinazu 57), Orlandi (Beech 53), Day (c), Caldwell (Sisi 50), Garvey, Fa'osiliva (Gilbert 62), Houston (Mercer 68).Tries: Fa'osiliva, Young, Henson, Mercer Conversions: Heathcote 2CARDIFF BLUES Fish, T Williams (O Jenkins 65), O Williams (G Evans 63), Hewitt, Czekaj, Humberstone, L Jones (L Williams 75), T Davies (Smout 75), R Williams, Bourrust (Lewis 75), Dicomidis, Down (Normandale 75), R Watts-Jones (Roach 41), E Jenkins (c), Hamilton. Replacements not used: Dacey, Normandale.Try: Fish Conversion: Humberstone Penalties: Humberstone 2Referee: Dean RichardsAttendance: 11,847
