In what started as a sunny, crisp evening, soon turned into a greasy and slippery session for Bath Rugby as they took on Cornish Pirates at the Mennaye Field to secure a four-try bonus point in their Premiership Rugby Cup opener.
Ewan Richards led the team for the first time in his Bath Rugby career in what was a huge moment for the homegrown 21-year-old.
The skipper even got the first score on the board for his team using his height and power to find himself on the right side of the try-line.
Magical moments came from Will Muir, who returned after a whole year on the sidelines, George Worboys, whose boot slotted plenty of Bath’s points, and Sam Harris was took a swandive over the line to add to his try-tally.
Mikey Summerfield also came on to get his Bath Rugby debut in a special moment for the 20-year-old prop.
The Cornish Pirates came out fighting to demand a tough, physical shift from the Bath pack, running the team close right until the very end.
With plenty of the Blue, Black and White faithful in the crowd, there was drama right into closing minutes with the hosts getting to within one score with just two minutes left on the clock.
Ending the game 23-29 in Bath Rugby's favour, Andy Robinson leads the team back to The Rec to go again next week in Round 2 of the Premiership Rugby Cup against Jersey Reds.
Thank you to Cornish Pirates for a brilliant contest and for making us feel so welcome in Penzance.
SCOres
Bath Rugby – tries: 5 Ewan Richards (12) 2 (John Stewart (37) 10 George Worboys (37)15 Sam Harris (71); cons: 10 George Worboys (12, 52, 72); pen: 10 George Worboys (34).
Cornish Pirates – tries: 8 Ben Grubb (27) 14 Will Trewin (64) 15 Kyle Moyle (76); con: 22 Iwan Jenkins (65); pens: 10 Tom Pittman (08, 23).
team selections
Bath Rugby XV: 1 Arthur Cordwell, 2 John Stewart, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Ewan Richards (c), 6 JJ Tonks, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 George Worboys, 11 Will Muir, 12 Will Butt, 13 Max Wright, 14 Gabe Goss, 15 Sam Harris
Replacements: 16 Jasper Spandler, 17 Mikey Summerfield, 18 Kieran Verden, 19 Nahum Merigan, 20 Thompson Cowan, 21 Murdoch Lock, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Louie Hennessey
Cornish Pirates XV: 1 Lefty Zigiriadis, 2 Morgan Nelson, 3 Marlen Walker, 4 Alex Everett, 5 Will Britton, 6 John Stevens (c), 7 Will Gibson, 8 Ben Grubb, 9 Ruaridh Dawson, 10 Tom Pittman, 11 Arthur Relton, 12 Joe Elderkin, 13 Matt McNab, 14 Will Trewin, 15 Kyle Moyle
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Fin Richardson, 18 Jack Andrew, 19 Josh King, 20 Harry Dugmore, 21 Alex Schwarz, 22 Iwan Jenkins, 23 Ioan Evans.
MATCH Highlights
match gallery
