Bath hammer Munster 40-14 in Champions Cup opener
Tom Dunn was one of Bath's try scorers
©Patrick Khachfe/Onside Images
Bath Rugby 40-14 Munster, The Recreation Ground
Bath Rugby opened their Champions Cup campaign in emphatic style with a dominant 40-14 bonus-point victory over Munster at a rain-lashed Recreation Ground.
Almost all the scoring came in a frantic first half, as the Prem champions combined set-piece strength, clever kicking and ruthless finishing to overwhelm their Irish visitors.
Bath struck inside the opening minutes when referee Jeremy Rozier awarded a penalty try for Munster collapsing a maul.
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne was shown a yellow card for the infringement, and Bath took full advantage of the extra man.
During Beirne’s absence, Miles Reid powered over from close range before Henry Arundell raced onto a superbly judged kick from Cam Redpath, the ball holding up perfectly on the sodden surface.
By the 18th minute, Bath had already secured their bonus point as Tom Dunn finished a well-worked line-out drive, stretching the lead to 28-0 inside the first quarter.
Munster finally found territory and replied through Edwin Edogbo, who drove over after sustained pressure.
Bath then had Will Stuart sent to the sin-bin, but even with a man down the hosts struck again when Beno Obano forced his way over, with Finn Russell converting to restore a comfortable cushion.
Munster ensured the half ended on a positive note for them as Craig Casey sniped over right on the whistle, but Bath still went into the break firmly in command at 35-14.
The second half was far more attritional as both sides tightened their defence and the earlier scoring pace slowed. With conditions improving, Bath managed the game calmly and kept Munster at bay, preventing any further inroads.
The only score after the interval came in the 78th minute, when Ben Spencer executed a deft chip-and-chase before feeding Ted Hill for a simple finish that capped Bath’s comprehensive victory.
Bath now travel to Toulon for their next Champions Cup outing and on this evidence, they look well equipped to push for a first European title since 1998.
Team line up:
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Redpath, Arundell; Russell, Spencer; Obano, Dunn, Stuart, Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Pepper, Reid.
Reserves: Tuipulotu, Van Wyk, Du Toit, Molony, Hill, Carr-Smith, Carreras, Underhill.
Munster: Daly; Kilgallen, Farrell, Kelly, Abrahams; Hanrahan, Casey; Milne, Barron, Ryan, Edogbo, Ahern, Beirne, Hodnett, Coombes.
Reserves: Barron, Loughman, Ala'alatoa, Wycherley, Quinn, Coughlan, Nankivell, Kendellen.
