Bath Rugby continued their winning run in the Amlin Challenge Cup with a nine try, bonus point win over Rugby Mogliano, final score 8-55.
Bath attacked early on, Nick Abendanon leading the charge and Olly Woodburn coming close to opening the scoring on the outside. However, it was the forwards who registered the first score for the visitors.
Mat Gilbert broke through the defence of his former team and Nathan Catt continued the attack with a charging run. Ryan Caldwell was on hand to carry further, before off-loading to his second row partner Dominic Day, who crashed his way over the line. Tom Heathcote added the conversion, giving Bath an early 0-7 lead.
Despite having the majority of the possession and territory in the opening quarter, the home side worked hard in defence and it wasn't until the 22nd minute that Bath found a way to breakthrough. A series of driving mauls had brought the visitors close, and eventually the pressure told, with Carl Fearns crashing over from the back. Heathcote again added the extras.
Mogliano made the most of their first foray into the Bath 22, earning a penalty at the breakdown which fullback Nicolo Fadalti converted. 3-14.
Bath kept control though, and Gilbert and Fearns were both in bulldozing form. Good link play led to Abendanon finding Richard Lane with a neat inside pass for the Academy winger to go over the line. Heathcote was again on target, taking the lead to 3-21.
With 35 minutes gone on the clock a powerful Bath scrum saw Micky Young burst away from the back and sprint away from the Mogliano defenders. Good inter-play between the scrum-half and Lane saw the wing free in space to score his second try of the game. 3-26.
Half-time: Rugby Mogliano 3 – Bath Rugby 26.
The home side came out firing after the break, enjoying a strong phase of possession which eventually led to their only try of the game. The driving maul was put to good affect, and lock Andrea Ceccato got the score. 8-26.
Bath hit back quickly and once again took control of the game. Kyle Eastmond was next to score, darting through a gap and over the try line following some patient phases of play from the visitors.
The forwards kept up the high work-rate in the tight, and after being camped on the Mogliano try line and winning the resulting scrum, they were rewarded with the penalty try. Heathcote added the conversion, taking the lead to 8-38.
Mogliano were keeping up the fight, but three quick tries in the closing minutes of the game sealed the win for Bath.
First, the ball was turned over in the Mogliano 22, and after some quick work across the line, Tom Biggs latched onto the end of a long pass, stepped around the waiting defender and scored. 8-42.
Having scored the opening try of the game, Day was intergral in the final two. It was his bullocking run that led play right up into the Mogliano 22, and a long, arching pass found Lane out wide, who sprinted over for his hat-trick try. Heathcote rounded the score up to 50 with the conversion. 8-50.
The lock then got his own moment of glory, as another stunning solo run saw him go all the way to the try line and score his second to finish the game.
Final score: Rugby Mogliano 8 – Bath Rugby 55.
Tickets are available for the return fixture when Mogliano visit the Recreation Ground next Saturday, kick-off 15.00. Book online here or call the Ticket Office on 0844 448 1865 to secure your seats.
