Simmonds bulldozes Bath hopes of revival

By MIKE SINCLAIR

Bath ………………..16pts

Tries: Reid 19

Conversions: Bailey 19

Penalties: Bailey 2, 47, 63

Exeter …………….23pts

Tries: Iosefa-Scott 42, S Simmonds 76

Conversions: Slade 42, J Simmonds 76

Penalties: Slade 8, 28, J Simmonds 80

BATH, given breathing space by their internal report to improve this season's dismal fortunes, responded with a display full of heart and determination – but it wasn't enough to save them from their eighth straight Premiership defeat of the season.

Four minutes away from their first victory, their previously combative scrum finally crumbled under pressure and trymachine Sam Simmonds made them pay.

Exeter's forwards, on a last-ditch assault to turn the tide, forced the Bath pack into reverse and, playing a penalty advantage, Simmonds crossed the line only to be held up by Joe Simpson.

But Sam Underhill's high tackle on the No.8 had given the Chiefs the option of a penalty equaliser for the original offence or a five-metre penalty and rather than settling for a share of the spoils by going for goal – as they uncharacteristically had four times previously – Exeter backed themselves.

The last-throw gamble paid off as Simmons snatched the ball off the back of another dominant setpiece to burst between replacement half-backs Danny Cipriani and Simpson for the crucial score.

Under-pressure Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper reflected: “For large parts of the game the way we played stopped them.

“The negative is that it's a game that's got away from us. We had double the penalty count of our opposition and you can't get away from that.

“It's heart-breaking for the players who put in a huge amount of effort and came up short.”

Bath went ahead after 90 seconds when the Exeter scrum went down and Orlando Bailey kicked the penalty.

Slade soon equalised but the Exeter set-piece had a stuttering start as they were also penalised at the second scrum while losing two of their first four lineouts.

Bath's try came in traditional Exeter fashion with a catch and drive taking Miles Reid over with Bailey converting from out wide.

The club are about to appoint a defence coach but there was nothing wrong with the rearguard action which was more than equal to the task when the Chiefs found some attacking momentum.

Slade landed a second penalty when Tom Dunn, despite his best efforts to extricate himself, was punished for not rolling away.

The Exeter of recent seasons would have been opting for the corner but when the chance arose again after a scrum collapsed on Will Stuart's side they pointed to the posts once more – but this time Slade missed.

When they did finally set up a lineout drive the Bath pack showed their defensive resolve to grind it to a halt and force an important scrum.

Exeter went 13-10 up two minutes into the second half when Dave Ewers, engaged in an enthralling night-long breakdown battle with Underhill, won a penalty, Jack Nowell quickly tapped a second and Kiwi close-season signing Josh Iosefa-Scott spearheaded two of the three drives before reaching over for his first Premiership try.

Bailey restored Bath's lead with two penalties, either side of Slade's second miss, before the Simmonds brothers settled the issue with Sam striking the knockout blow and Joe adding the conversion and a last-kick penalty.

Class act: Henry Slade tries to break

PICTURE: Getty Images

Looking good: Miles Reid scores Bath's try