Virtually all aspects are running smoothly for Bath at this stage. Finally, their long-awaited stadium redevelopment appears on the verge of starting, and on the field, the reigning winners have won two from two after the initial two rounds. With Finn Russell set to reappear in action next week to reclaim the number 10 role, it is will require a outstanding side to dethrone them.
On a wet and windy night in the West Country, however, they were forced to labor intensely by a stubborn Sale Sharks team who refused to yield and refused to go away. It was only with three minutes left that the Bath center slid in to score his side’s fourth try to preserve his squad’s flawless opening to the competition.
This was the Sharks’ fourth consecutive setback on their host’s stadium and the way it unfolded was mostly typical to previous matches. Bath make a virtue in squeezing teams in the final quarter of games, and here was yet another instance of it. The hosts might have eased the pressure for themselves had they opted to kick an earlier penalty to extend their lead to eight points, but in the end, Ojomoh had the decisive moment.
The watching England head coach Steve Borthwick had no shortage of other players to assess, with Ollie Lawrence and Henry Arundell also looking eager to impress him. the Sharks’ hooker notched a second-half try and is undoubtedly a promising talent, while the leadership and kicking accuracy of the composed George Ford stood out in testing conditions.
The fly-half was a standout for the away side despite the setback.
It was one more wet and miserable matchday when a shelter on the open temporary stand would have protected drenched spectators. Their admission can still cost £100, but a solution is close at hand. After lengthy debates, planning permission has been given for an 18,000-seat stadium, with the heritage body and the secretary of state having given the decision their blessing.
That now depends on Bath waiting for official documentation, which the club hope will come through within a few months. And once Bath do at last own their own riverside palace to complement their exceptionally player resources, life is going to become no easier for future visitors.
Not to suggest Sale were in any mood to be frightened in a combative if somewhat disjointed first half. Bath were regrettable to lose their national team second-row the experienced player to a knock inside the opening stages, and the the visitors’ forwards also made some positive starts. It was Bath, though, who fought back and notched the game’s first try, just when Sale were applying pressure they were breached down the left flank by Lawrence before the swift Arundell evaded the defender to score his debut home league touchdown for his childhood club.
It was to be the story of the half: encouraging visiting flashes only for Bath to hit back with clinical execution. The game was still in its early stages when they scored again, the flanker breaking through off the back of a Bath throw and setting up the inside center on his shoulder to cross with flair.
Fortunately Sale still had the outstanding George Ford to keep them in touch. The England fly-half had already converted a finely judged penalty and a clever drop kick when a Bath drop-out bounced straight to him on the midfield. Having taken a brief pause to set himself, the stand-off nailed another precise drop-goal to reduce the lead before Beno Obano, from near the line, scored Bath’s third try with Sale’s captain Ernst Van Rhyn serving a yellow card.
Fighting back from 21-9 as visitors would be a challenging endeavor in any venue, especially against a Bath team with a numerical advantage and a deep reserves. It was a credit to Sale’s grit, then, when they created the try from close range just seven minutes after the restart to dispel any home complacency.
Ordinarily that is the signal for Bath to raise their level, but this time the Sharks were ready. They made their own multiple replacements and, at a narrow margin, it needed a brilliant tackle from Sam Underhill to stop the seriously hard running of Marius Louw. A big collision by the defender also forced the Bath player to exit early, but where it mattered most, up on the result, Bath always find a way these days.
