Bath United are 2013 A League Champions
Bath United powered to an impressive 29-20 victory over Northampton Wanderers in the Aviva A League final at Franklin’s Gardens on Monday night.
After an enthralling, talent-filled 2013 A League season, which greatly helps the development of young players, Bath met Northampton in the competition’s grand final.
As befitting of a final, both sides, with a mix of youth and experience, were going all out from the kick-off, but it was United who were first on the scoresheet.
A lineout on half-way, well taken by Ryan Caldwell, found its way to Tom Biggs who burst through the midfield to race away and score unopposed under the posts. Tom Heathcote added the extras, giving the visitors an early 0-7 lead.
However, the home team fought back straight away, winning a penalty at srcum time just outside the visitors’ 22. Centre Glen Dickson converted, giving Wanderers their first points of the night. 3-7, 6 minutes.
It was then the turn of Bath to enjoy a period of their own, as they hit back at the home side. After a neat hip and gather from Nick Abendanon, the fullback found Gavin Henson on the wing who raced down the touchline and just managed to stay in touch to score. A tricky touchline conversion for Heathcote was sent sailing through the posts by the young fly-half. 3-14.
Things then moved from bad to worse for Northampton, who were reduced to 14 men as hooker Mike Haywood was sent to the bin for an infringement at the breakdown. Heathcote sent the ensuing penalty thought the uprights to take the score to a commanding 3-17.
In impressive fashion, though, Saints went straight back on the counter attack as they began to put a number of good phases together.
The ball was then shipped out wide, stretching the United defence too far and Howard Packman went crashing over the whitewash out wide. Dickson was on target with the conversion to take the score to 10-17.
Just minutes before the break, the home side had a lineout just metres short of the Bath line that was stopped by the referee for a penalty, whilst also sending United Captain Kane Palma-Newport to the bin for pulling down the maul.
Penalty after penalty came with the referee eventually losing patience with the away side, awarding the Wanderers a penalty try. Dickson slotted the simple conversion to leave it locked at 17 apiece at the end of a breathless half of rugby.
The second half started with the same blistering pace as the first. Back to a full complement of players, United had to defend their lines hard. The defence held firm, and eventually a penalty enabled the visitors to clear their lines.
In an end to end game, United found themselves with an opportunity to attack from a five metre lineout.
After an enormous heave from the powerful Bath back eventually resulted in Charlie Beech rumbling over the line and placing the ball down for the score. Heathcote made no mistake with the conversion, putting some breathing space between the teams. 17-24.
However, the breathing room was short-lived, as another infringement from Bath saw Dickson kick the ensuing penalty at the other end, keeping his side in the game as 20-24.
A very tense last ten minutes saw United throwing everything they had at the Saints defence. After a barnstorming break by Dunn, Richard Lane darted over. Heathcote couldn't convert from a tricky angle, but it gave United a nine-point lead.
The referee signalled that there was time for a restart but United gathered and Heathcote booted the ball into touch much to the delight of the travelling support to seal Bath United's title as Aviva A League Champions 2013.
