Faletau hat-trick keeps Bath's play-off chances alive

Bath Rugby 44-20 Gloucester Rugby, Recreation Ground
Scorecard

Taulupe Faletau scored hat-trick of tries as Bath completed a 44-20 bonus point victory riding on a dominant second half performance against Gloucester Rugby at Recreation Ground on Sunday.

After the first 20 minutes went without a point, Rhys Priestland and his counterpart Halaifonua Tonga exchanged a penalty each.

Faletau scored the first of his three tries in the 26th minute with Priestland adding the conversion but Gloucester responded back with a touchdown from Jonny May as Todd Blackadder's men had a slender two point lead.

Bath showed more dominance in the second half as Aled Brew (42') and Max Clark (48') scored a try each as they extended the lead to 19 points at the end of the third quarter.

The onslaught from Bath continued with replacement Robbie Fruean strolling past the post along with two more tries from Faletau to take the score to 44 points.

Even though, May scored his second try followed by another touchdown from Halaifonua Tonga, Gloucester managed only 20 points, thereby losing the game by 24 points.

Bath now have 58 points from 21 games and will lock horns with Sale Sharks in their final league stage game. Their play-off chances of progressing to the play-off will also depend on the result between Leicester Tigers and Worcester Warriors game as the Welford Road outfit are at fourth position with 62 points.