Bath will be something to be reckoned with next season

Bath linebacker Ben Spencer was the center of attention' victory at Twickenham. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers Harlequins v Bath 2022-23 match summary

Moving across the road to Twickenham, with its pyrotechnics and Kaiser Chiefs pre-match performance, this match was heralded by the Harlequins as a big summer start, but it was Bath that kicked off its summer in style. winning third place. consecutive victory and a chance for European qualification on the last day at home with the Saracens.

Over the last three weeks in lockdown — with bonus points wins over Exeter, Gloucester and now Queens — Finn Russell will be licking his lips as he joins Johann van Graan's bath restoration. Admittedly, more was expected from this match by the guests than the hosts – Newcastle's Friday night demolition at Northampton meant the top four were outside the Harlequins. before the ball was kicked, but the game still had to be won, and in the end, a 10-point difference — on six tries — was nothing short of convincing.

"I'like to think that [this run bodes well for next season]" Van Graan said. "And I like to think that all our backs will be licked!"

Tabay Matson, head coach of the Harlequins, admitted: “The result was crap. A strong kick in the gut at this time of year.» Regarding England prostitute Jack Walker's injury, Matson added: «He's probably going to be scanned tonight, but it looks a little ominous.»

At the heart of Bath's Twickenham brawl was skipper and England exile Ben Spencer. The scrum half will team with Russell the following season; enticing prospect. Few nines in England have as threatening an all-around package as Spencer, as well as his sniping and vision, he was six for six with tees on Saturday and his control was the difference. Ollie Lawrence shone too, but Spencer was a rock for Bath.

&#34I was worried the first minute he took that hit" added Van Graan. "I thought 6-2 [bench split], your nine is leaving, your captain is leaving…

"I saw something else in him early in the season, something different and that's why I chose him to lead this group for the whole season. As for his big moments, you can always look at his footwork, but his big moments were phenomenal. These 50:22 immediately after the break put us ahead. I'm really proud of him.»

Harlequins also managed five attempts. As a team, the 2021 champions may be destined for a second successive trophy-free season, but Kadan Merli, England's cornerman Steve Borthwick, was on par with Spencer in quality of play. outstanding player. A tryout that gives the wing daylight at the top of the rankings this season — seven defenders hit and two clean breaks; Wing is similar to Jack Nowell in his ability, perhaps with slightly less muscle and slightly more vision and football ability. In England, things are much worse in wide channels.

Harlequins' Kaden Merli impressed again and gave a boost to his hopes for England. Photo: PA/Ben Whitley

«When a team isn't playing well — and we haven't — the fact that he keeps scoring shows the quality of the finisher,» he said. Matson said. «He will go [to Welford Road] purposefully.»

Both sides converted three attempts in the first half, so the match was well prepared for the break. With visitors' Maul in dominance — indeed, two of their attempts scored by Tom Dunn and Niall Annette came from them — Bat could have been out of the picture at half-time if they had scored more from two Harlequin yellow cards in quick succession — to Merli and André Esterhuizen.

Joe Kokanashiga, Annette and Max Ojomo crossed paths in the last 15 minutes for Bath — with just one try, from Alex Drombrandt, in return — ensuring that whatever happens on the last day, Van Graan's team can go into next season with optimism.

Match details

Scoring order0-5 Dunn, 0-7 Spencer, 5-7 Murley, 7-7 Smith, 7-10 Spencer, 12-10 Wallace, 14-10 Smith, 14-15 Van Welz 14-17 Spencer vs, 19-17 Smith try, 21-17 Smith vs, 21-22 Lawrence try, 21-24 Spencer try, 26-24 Gyaltema try, 28-24 Smith try, Annette 28-29 try, 28- 31 Spencer v, 28-36 Kokanashiga, 28-38 Spencer, 33-38 Dombrandt, 35-38 Smith, 35-43 Ojomo, 35-45 Francis, vs.
H-T: 21 –24
Harlequins: Jay Bassett (N. David, 56); L. Lina, J. Marchand, A. Esterhuizen (L. Northmore, 41), K. Merli; M. Smith, L. Gyalthema (S. Steele, 63); J. Marler (F. Baxter, 60), J. Walker (S. Riley, 34), W. Collier (S. Kerrod, 60), D. Lamb, I. Herbst (J. Hammond, 76), L. Wallace, W. Evans (J. Kenningham, 64), A. Dombrandt (c ).
Yellow card: Esterhuizen 29, Merli 31
Bath< /strong>: M. Gallagher; J. Kokanashiga, O. Lawrence, M. Ojomoh, R. McConnochie (P. Francis 69); O. Bailey, B. Spencer (c) (M. Green, 73); B. Obano (J. Schumann, 59), T. Dunn (N. Annette, 64), W. Stewart (D. Ray, 60, Stewart, 73), J. McNally (W. Spencer, 64), G. J. Van Welz, T. Hill, K. Cloet (R. de Carpentier, 76) , M. Reid (J. Bayliss, 19).
Referee: K. Dixon
Attendance: 44,100