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Prem top dogs Bath flex at The Rec against Harlequins
By PA
Leaders Bath maintained their imperious form in the Gallagher Premiership with a 47-28 victory over Harlequins in front of another sell-out crowd at the Recreation Ground.
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With 56 points from 13 matches, not to mention a massive points-difference of 200, Bath are cruising towards the play-offs with a home semi-final already in their sights. Two of their remaining fixtures are against the division’s bottom two clubs, Exeter and Newcastle.
Harlequins stayed in the fight for as long they could and fully deserved securing a try bonus point just minutes from full-time. However, Bath had their own bonus point wrapped up by the 22nd minute of a seven-try victory as they powered on at the summit.
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Bath’s opening try came after just three minutes when Joe Cokanasiga crashed over in the corner, leaving Rodrigo Isgro nursing a head injury which referee Anthony Woodthorpe decided was down to his own flawed tackling technique. The Argentina wing was shown a yellow card for the clash of heads and never reappeared.
Finn Russell’s conversion was wide but he had a far easier kick to convert Ted Hill’s touchdown five minutes later, the England flanker breaking a tackle after Miles Reid’s pass.
With Jamie Benson on in place of Isgro, Marcus Smith was switched to full-back but he was promptly sent to the sin bin for a cynical slapdown on his own line. Bath tapped and drove for Ross Molony to force his way over and Russell’s conversion put his side 19-0 ahead.
Quins found themselves 26-0 down without even touching the ball again as Russell pulled the trigger from the restart and Will Muir brushed off two defenders to score 90 metres upfield. His fly-half landed the conversion from the touchline.
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Even without Smith on the field, the visitors were dangerous on the counter and skipper Stephan Lewies put Luke Northmore over for a defiant score converted by Benson.
Prop Titi Lamositele grabbed another after heavy pressure on the Bath line, Smith adding the conversion, which brought Quins within 12 points.
However, Muir grabbed his second try of the match just before the break and Russell’s conversion pushed Bath further ahead, 33-14.
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But the visitors were still in tenacious mood after the break and England prop Fin Baxter barged over from close range, with Smith accurate from the tee again.
A Ben Spencer score at the other end was chalked off for a forward pass and Bath found themselves on the defensive once more – until Max Ojomoh intercepted a pass by Benson and raced 80 metres for the home side’s sixth try, converted by Russell.
Quins now began to feel the power off the Bath bench, typified by replacent prop Francois van Wyk who was up in support when Will Butt broke from halfway and Spencer provided the line.
Replacement hooker Sam Riley rewarded the visitors for their resilience with the bonus-point try after 76 minutes, with Smith adding the conversion.
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