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Late Jacob Umaga conversion seals Bath fate against Benetton

Cameron Redpath of Bath Rugby (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Benetton Rugby claimed a memorable European scalp after defeating Bath Rugby 22-21 in a dramatic Champions Cup clash at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

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The Italians led for most of the match before showing tremendous resilience to seal victory with a late penalty, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.

Bath were reduced to 14 men after Louis Schreuder copped a yellow card and Benetton wasted no time capitalizing, scoring on the eight-minute mark through Rhyno Smith, who cut open the Bath defence off an offload from Onisi Ratave.

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They heaped more misery on the visitors when Louis Lynagh crossed the whitewash to make it 10-0 after 15 minutes.

Bath replied through Niall Annett, who powered over from close range, but their ill-discipline continued to cost them. Benetton struck again before the break when Smith bagged his second after intercepting an Orlando Bailey pass before running it home from 75 metres. Albornoz’s subsequent conversion sent Benetton into halftime with a 17-7 lead.

Fixture
Investec Champions Cup
Benetton
22 - 21
Full-time
Bath
All Stats and Data

Bath came out firing in the second half, dominating possession and territory. Scotland back-row Josh Bayliss scored in the 52nd minute to cut Benetton’s lead to 17-14 after a well-executed offload from Miles Reid.

Bath pressure continued to mount and the damn broke again just five minutes later. A 57th-minute Thomas du Toit carry busted open the home side’s defence to put Bath in the lead for the first time in the match.  Orlando Bailey’s conversion made it 17-21 and it seemed the visitors were on the verge of a stunning comeback.

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Unfortunately for Johann van Graan’s side, Benetton hadn’t read that script.

Despite being under near-constant pressure from the Gallagher Premiership finalists, the Italians’ defence held firm and they would take advantage of the English side’s indiscipline.  The visitors were reduced to 14 men with Max Ojomoh receiving a yellow card in the 67th minute.

With time winding down Benetton scored through Bautista Bernasconi and super-sub Jacob Umaga stepped up and delivered – the former England flyhalf nailing the conversion to put his side back in front at 22-21.

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1 Comment
R
Rob 4 hours ago

Lads the maths isn’t mathing, read your report again seriously, either you’re reporting the score wrong or incapable of crediting the winning try scorer because a penalty isn’t 5 points. Do the words proof reading exist in anyone’s heads here.

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JW 11 hours ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

Ah yes, I see how you've solved the WC available slots, until theyre filled. As said in my reply I don't know if sides want to be up there when they're not good enough, in regards to sides who do well in the middle teir and reach challenge cup knockouts etc. It's also a very messy approach if you ask me, I was barely able to understand it.


It's means you've thought from the top down, and I'd have a bottom up approach. So I think first about what is best for the teams at the bottom, instead of your above approach were you try to fit teams in at the top first.


You've miss understood. You have to set up the competition so that it is based on merit, not like what you've done b,y last years results of English performance as a 'snapshot' of what the future will be like; ie you've given all leagues equal numbers/representation, that is the wrong approach imo. The share should be performance based, and with far less random WC's.


Well that's where we'll have to disagree then, because imo it's a much better idea to give the leagues WC spots rather than the individual teams. I suppose it depends a lot on stability, for instance the 4 Challenge Cup teams you name Sharks and Benneton are in contention because they are at least earning it based on one years of results (this year, so far at least, and last years results, respectively), Clermont a little less so, but Gloucester should not be included based on last year if it's supposed to be a true elite competition and compete with Super Rugby.


Same goes with Exeter, they should not be their because they were part of the 2024 version. Are Gloucester doing well in the prem this year because theyre not worried about resting players for Champions Cup competition? Teams like Benneton get the WC spot for Sharks winning a european trophy, Connacht (I'm not sure I buy my example of giving URC more to start with so maybe this is like Irelands 2nd or 3rd best team in future occasions) as Irelands wildcard for winning the 6N, Castres are rewarded for the Top 14 providing last years champions, based on my example WC ideas. Stormers are included based on the bigger base URC gets, and La Rochelle (based on league) or Toulon (as the missed the top four by elimination game).


Some good English teams miss out but as I say you don't want to be chopping and changing the formats so it might work out in future or you simply start with 5 each and Bristol is is included in CC. Why would you want to give less consistent teams, ones that primarly do well in europe, preference?

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