Swansea University moved out of the BUCS Premier South A
relegation zone thanks to a gritty and determined victory over Bath
at a windswept Sketty Lane.
Conditions were atrocious with a severe gale hampering any
efforts of expansive rugby. However, it was the hosts that handled the weather
better with Swansea fly half Jack Shields firing home two pressure kicks late
on in proceedings.
With the wind in their faces, the Green and Whites put in
the hard graft before the break and limited the visitors to a 6-5 advantage,
despite being pinned in their own territory for the majority of the half.
From kick-off, Bath almost immediately captured the lead
when Swansea infringed in their own 22 and full-back George Drury fired over
the resultant penalty.
Early on, Bath looked dangerous but a quick-tap penalty from
Swansea scrum-half, Josh Guy, was the catalyst for a quick response from the
hosts.
Guy broke the initial line of defence and set winger Andrew
Claypole free, although the flyer still had work to do to outpace the cover
defence.
However, there was no hope for Shields to add the extras
from out right with the wind in his face.
Richard Lancaster’s troops were now in the ascendancy and
although they struggled to drive out of their own half the forwards kept it
tight, maintaining possession for several minutes at a time as they starved the
life out of Bath’s attack.
However, as the half drew to a close, the visitors were once
again on top but saw a couple of penalty attempts go begging before Marcus Beer
was successful with his third attempt on the stroke of half time to edge them
ahead heading into the break.
If Swansea thought that in riding the first half storm they
were set for a breeze of a half, then they got a rude awakening.
After several missed tackles Bath advanced up the left flank
with Drury finishing the incisive move to stretch their lead.
And now Bath, without the wind behind them, looked a much
more dangerous adversary as they set-out to run the ball at every opportunity,
with replacement Adam Anker going on several barnstorming charges.
Cheered on by a throng of passionate, yet wind-blown supporters,
Swansea regained their composure after some harsh words from influential back
row Reuben Tucker.
An Elliot Jones attack sent the hosts driving into the
opposition 22 and a resultant scrum V to Swansea provided the platform for the
Green and Whites to strike.
After several pick-and-gos, the hosts crossed the whitewash
with Tucker emerging with the ball from under a pile of bodies.
Shields missed the conversion but the hosts were once again
on the front foot.
However, they did make hard work of it, initially inviting
pressure from the visitors, but with ten minutes remaining, good work at the
breakdown saw the hosts rewarded with a penalty 30 metres out.
Shields stepped up and fired Swansea into a 13-11 lead, and
straight from the restart the process was replicated with Shields knocking over
another penalty, essentially putting the must-win game to bed.
Overall, Swansea deserved the victory due in large part to
their physicality and tenacious spirit.
The win sees the Green and Whites move off the bottom of the
BUCS table which is now occupied by Varisty rivals, Cardiff. Swansea play their
last league fixture next Wednesday against Cardiff Met at Cyncoed.
Star Man: Reuben Tucker (Swansea University).
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