A Heartbreaking Loss for Bath as Benetton Claim Victory in the Final Minute
Bath suffered an agonizing last-gasp defeat at the hands of Benetton in their Investec Champions Cup clash at the Stadio Monigo. Despite fielding a rotated side, Johann van Graan’s Bath team put in a brave performance but ultimately fell short in a thrilling encounter. The defeat left Bath with a difficult path ahead in Pool Two, as they look to turn their European campaign around.
Benetton, currently sitting in 12th place in the United Rugby Championship, started the match in strong fashion. They capitalized on Bath’s early disciplinary issues and managed to put Bath under significant pressure with two tries in the first half. However, Bath showed resilience, fighting back to take the lead in the second half. In a dramatic conclusion to the match, Bath were left heartbroken as Benetton’s Bautista Bernasconi scored the match-winning try in the final play, handing his side a 22-21 victory.
Early Pressure from Benetton and Bath’s Disciplinary Woes
The match began with Benetton asserting their dominance, taking advantage of Bath’s early struggles. Scrum-half Louis Schreuder was sin-binned in the opening minutes, and Benetton made sure to capitalize on the extra space. The first try came through Rhyno Smith, who crossed in the corner after a quick attack from the Italians. Just seven minutes later, Benetton had their second, with former Harlequins winger Louis Lynagh dotting down on the opposite side.
Bath were forced to regroup after Schreuder’s yellow card, and once their scrum-half returned to the field, they started to mount a response. Hooker Niall Annett got Bath on the scoreboard with a try after a driving maul, which was successfully converted by fly-half Orlando Bailey. However, towards the end of the half, Bailey made a costly mistake. He failed to notice Smith, who read his pass and intercepted it, running the length of the pitch for his second try, giving Benetton a comfortable 17-7 lead at halftime.
Bath’s Resilient Fightback in the Second Half
Trailing by 10 points at halftime, Bath knew they needed a strong second half to get back into the game. The visitors started brightly, with some excellent individual play from their backs. Cam Redpath spotted a gap in the Benetton defense and passed to Miles Reid, who surged forward before offloading to Josh Bayliss. The Bath winger finished the move with a well-executed try, cutting Benetton’s lead to just three points.
The momentum shifted in Bath’s favor, and shortly after Bayliss’ try, Bath took the lead for the first time in the match. A series of forward drives near the Benetton line saw Bath’s replacement prop Thomas du Toit crash over for a try, putting Bath ahead 21-17. The comeback was impressive, and the visitors seemed to have weathered the early storm, showing their determination to get something from the match.
Benetton’s Persistence and Bath’s Disciplinary Issues
Despite Bath’s strong comeback, Benetton were not ready to give up the fight. The Italians were awarded a crucial opportunity in the 69th minute when Bath’s Max Ojomoh was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. With Bath reduced to 14 men, Benetton were handed a golden opportunity to regain the lead. However, they nearly wasted it, failing to capitalize on three consecutive chances.
Replacement Nacho Brex inexplicably dropped the ball after crossing the try line, and prop Tiziano Pasquali opted to charge for the line himself, ignoring an overlap that could have led to a certain try. These missed opportunities left Benetton’s fans nervous, as they feared their side might squander the chance to win. However, with the final play of the match, Benetton delivered the killer blow.
The Final Moment: Bernasconi’s Match-Winning Try
As the clock ticked into the 80th minute, Benetton put together one final attack. A well-executed driving maul saw Bautista Bernasconi at the back, powering over the line to score the decisive try. The crowd erupted in celebration as Benetton snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, leaving Bath devastated after a valiant fightback.
The try was a heartbreaker for Bath, who had come so close to claiming a vital win in their European campaign. Despite the loss, van Graan’s side showed great character in fighting back from a difficult position. However, their lack of discipline and costly mistakes ultimately cost them dearly.
Bath’s Struggles in the Champions Cup
Bath’s loss to Benetton leaves them with only two points in Pool Two, and qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions Cup is now looking increasingly difficult. Bath will now have to regroup and focus on their upcoming matches, which include a home game against Clermont in January, followed by a tough away trip to Leinster. The road to qualification seems an uphill battle for Bath, and they will need to improve significantly in both attack and defense if they are to have any hope of advancing in the competition.
The loss also highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued Bath in recent months. While their fightback in the second half showed their potential, their disciplinary issues and failure to capitalize on key moments continue to undermine their efforts. The squad will need to find a way to stay focused and avoid costly errors if they are to make any impact in Europe this season.
Benetton’s Victory: A Boost for Their Campaign
For Benetton, the victory was a much-needed boost in their Champions Cup campaign. Despite their struggles in the United Rugby Championship, they showed resilience and determination to claim the win. The win over Bath was their first of the competition, and they will be hoping to build on this momentum in their remaining pool matches. Bernasconi’s late try will undoubtedly be a highlight of their season, and they will take confidence from their ability to close out a match in such dramatic fashion.
Benetton’s forwards were crucial to their success, with the pack dominating in the set-piece and providing the platform for the backs to attack. The tries from Smith and Lynagh were well taken, and the team showed great composure in the final stages to secure the win. Head coach Kieran Crowley will be pleased with his side’s performance, particularly their ability to weather the storm after Bath’s comeback and their persistence in the closing stages.
Conclusion: Bath Left with Tough Task Ahead
Bath’s loss to Benetton in the Investec Champions Cup was a hard pill to swallow, as they came so close to claiming a valuable win. The match highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of Johann van Graan’s side. While they showed great spirit in fighting back from a difficult position, their lack of discipline and inability to take advantage of key moments cost them in the end.
With just two points from their opening two matches, Bath now face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition. They will need to improve both individually and as a team in order to remain competitive in the Champions Cup. For Benetton, the victory provides a much-needed boost to their campaign, and they will look to build on this success as they aim to progress in Europe.
