Cavaliers beat Bath to book place in final - The Worcester Observer

Cavaliers beat Bath to book place in final

Worcester Editorial 6th Jan, 2015 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

Worcester Cavaliers 37 Bath United 26

Aviva A League

Geoff Berkeley reports from Sixways

WORCESTER Cavaliers booked their place in the final of the Aviva A League with an accomplished display to see off an ill-disciplined Bath United side on Monday night.




The hosts were trailing at 13-10 at half time after James Percival’s 12th minute score was cancelled out by tries from Rich Lane and Marcus Beer.

But Cavaliers upped the ante in the second period as Mat Gilbert scored against his former club before Josh Drauniniu and Leonardo Senatore went over to put their side firmly in control.


Bath’s hopes of mounting a fight back were then dashed by a flurry of cards, including a straight red for Micky Young which left his side momentarily down to 12 men.

This result will be another feather in the cap for Worcester, who now just need to beat Saracens Storm at Sixways next Monday to claim their first piece of silverware of the season.

With the chance of boosting their trophy cabinet, Cavaliers fielded a side which featured a number of former or current internationals.

But it was defending champions Bath who looked the more threatening early on as they opened their account with a penalty from Will Homer.

Ignacio Mieres got Cavaliers back on level terms with a drop goal before the fly half produced a long range kick into touch to send his side on the attack moments later. Bath did well to stop Cavalier’s first surge to the line, but they could do little to deny Percival who crashed through to score, which Mieres converted.

Bath did not let this affect them, though, as Ryan Jennings showed great awareness and accuracy on two occasions to turn the game on its head.

Firstly, the stand-off sent over a well-weighted cross-field kick for Lane to touch down in the corner before Jennings produced the good again. This time, replacement wing Beer latched on to Jennings’ kick to score after Cavaliers’ defence were squeezed.

Homer could not add the extras, while Mieres also failed to hit the target as Bath held a narrow three-point lead at half-time.

But this soon disappeared after the break as Gilbert, who had a point to prove against his former employers, powered over from close range. Mieres added the extras.

Drauniniu grabbed Worcester’s third on the 57th minute, which was sandwiched between two penalties from Homer as Bath found themselves 22-19 behind.

But crucially it was Cavaliers who were getting over the try-line and they added another when Mieres’ kick found Senatore in acres of space on the right to score.

Things then went from bad to worse for Bath as Max Northcote-Green’s yellow card was followed by two more cards shortly after Mieres put the game out of reach with a penalty.

Mercer became the second man in the sin-bin before Young saw red for a tip tackle. This left United in disarray and Warriors, who at one point had a three-man advantage, showed no mercy as Mulchrone dived over.

Bath still had the final word, though, as Olly Woodburn went in near the posts, which Homer converted with the last kick of the game.

Caption: Mat Gilbert scored against his former club. Picture by Andy Baldwin.

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