Cokanasiga shows his England quality

By ADAM HATHAWAY

Bath ……………………………… 25pts

Tries: Cokanasiga 1, 47; Stooke 42, Reid 74

Conversion: Russell 49

Penalties: Russell 33

Harlequins …………………… 17pts

Tries: Smith 4, Walker 51, Chisholm 80+1

Conversions: Smith 52

JOE Cokanasiga threw his hat into the Six Nations ring as he became the main event and relegated Finn Russell and Marcus Smith to supporting acts.

Russell and Smith had their moments in a mainly even battle until Smith's missed conversion of James Chisholm's late score cost Quins a bonus point.

The result sees Bath top the table at Christmas while the Londoners, who were third before this visit to the West Country, sunk back into sixth ahead of their Big Game, against Gloucester, next weekend.

Cokanasiga, who is 6ft 4in and 17 and a half stone, scored two tries that showcased his pace and power just months after being rejected for the World Cup and showed he has bounced back from that disappointment.

He played just one warmup game for England before being axed from the squad but with his brace here making it six tries in four games he looks a contender for a comeback to international colours.

Cokanasiga disappeared off the England radar after last year's summer tour to Australia but England head coach Steve Borthwick threw him a World Cup lifeline before jettisoning him in August.

His contribution managed to overshadow the battle at No.10 which had threatened to be the only talking point. Honours were just about even between the two as Smith helped Quins grab a try in added time from flanker Chisholm but the fly-half, who needed to convert from just left of the posts, missed the kick and Quins came away with nothing.

But the pair of 10s did manage to produce some superb skills in driving rain and a brisk wind at The Rec which was a million miles away from the indoor arena in is two weeks ago, where Smith ran Racing ragged.

Power play: Joe Cokanasiga gets past Andre Esterhuizen to score the opening try

PICTURES: Getty Images

Russell was the first of the No.10s to dip his hand into his bag of tricks with just two minutes on the clock when he pulled Quins wing Louis Lynagh out of position with a delayed pass and sent Ollie Lawrence free. The centre then fed Cokanasiga who charged in.

Smith replied by producing a solo score two minutes later. He wrongfooted the defence with a dummy and a side-step from a lineout to waltz through and it was level at 5-5 as both the fly-halves missed their conversions.

Bath were then denied a try after wing Will Muir broke from his own half, Ben Spencer juggled the ball then held onto it before he was brought down. Centre Max Ojomoh went over but the try was chalked off for a knock on which had been caused by Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care diving on Spencer from an offside position. Care got sinbinned but Bath only got a penalty from referee Luke Pearce and the locals were fuming.

Bath made up for that perceived injustice shortly after the break when lock Elliott Stooke was shoved over from a line out and went 15 points up when Cokanasiga broke three tackles, including one of Smith's, to leave Quins on the ropes.

Smith's slide rule penalty set up a lineout and hooker Jack Walker was the beneficiary, but Bath held their pressure with some stern defence and Miles Reid went over from a lineout for the bonus point score just after Smith and Russell had been scuffling over the ball in the corner.

Waltzing through: Marcus Smith bursts past Miles Reid and Niall Annett to score his solo try