Men's BUCS Super Rugby Final: Bath clinch league and cup double with victory over Loughborough
Bath celebrating a historic year after sealing double delight
©TRU
The University of Bath completed the BUCS Super Rugby league and cup double following a 41-14 win against Loughborough University at Rodney Parade in the Milk Championship final.
After heading into the interval at 7-7, Bath had a period where they scored 27 unanswered points to race away with the cup after beating Loughborough to the league title last month.
Wing Tyler Offiah scored two tries alongside scores from centre Luc Anfield, flanker Iwan Coyle, and replacement Harry Walker, with fly-half Will Roue kicking 16 points in a convincing display.
They opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a period of possession in midfield, before Offiah ran onto a pass from outside centre Jack Harrison to break through the Loughborough defence and score unopposed.
Loughborough couldn’t get their set-piece firing when a lineout was called not straight, as they were unable to find a platform to attack following the restart, while Bath almost scored a second try after a break from tighthead prop Alfie Griffin, but his offload didn’t reach the hands of the supporting scrum-half, Issac Mears.
Loughborough thought they had their first points of the contest in the 23rd minute following a breakaway out wide from fullback Elliot Gourlay, who kicked ahead, only for the ball to bounce away from scrum-half Rhys Hulse before outside centre Archie Kean dropped the ball over the try line.
Number 8 Yande Nkonge forced a turnover inside the Bath 22 after a missed kick to touch from fly-half Roue, but another chance went begging after openside flanker Joe Denman obstructed the defence.
But the score eventually came in the final minute of the half, with wing Rowe on hand to finish off a break from Kean for their first points of the match; fly-half Ben Taylor added the conversion to level the scores at the interval.
Bath were looking to apply pressure after the interval and forced a knock-on inside the Loughborough 22 from hooker Ralfie Willot, and they struck in the 44th minute as inside centre Luc Anfield powered over from short range, leaving a simple conversion for fly-half Roue.
Roue kicked a penalty in the 49th minute after Loughborough failed to roll away in the tackle to extend his side’s lead to ten points, with the restart going out on the full before a dominant scrum gave Bath another chance to attack.
Offiah scored his second in the 53rd minute after he spun out of a tackle to score from close range following a period of pressure.
The try-scoring continued for Bath as openside flanker Coyle ensured victory when he scored from short range in the 68th minute, with Roue continuing his fine form off the kicking tee.
Roue kicked a second penalty in the 71st minute to put the icing on the cake as Bath supporters could start their celebrations early.
There was something for the Loughborough supporters to celebrate when replacement Theo Mayell crossed for a late try with five minutes to play, but they will fall short again after finishing second in the league alongside the cup.
