The University of Bath men’s 1st XV have been crowned as BUCS Super Rugby league champions for the first time in the competition’s 10-year history.
Image: Max Pearce lifting the league trophy, CREDIT: Ben Lumley/BUCS.
A superbly executed 17-7 away win at Durham, Bath’s 11th successive victory, ensured Aaron James’ men finished two points clear of previous champions Loughborough at the top of the table.
“It’s been a long time and we’ve been building, building, building towards this,” said an emotional James after the match. “This is a massive reward for so many people – the S&C coaches, physios, video analysis, facilities, groundsmen, senior management, the whole of Team Bath and the SU, everyone who works so hard for us.
“I’m lucky enough to be the Head of Rugby but my role is 5-10 per cent. This is a reward for the club and all of our supporters, I’m pleased we have this for everybody.
“What I’m most proud of is the way all the players have developed themselves over the years. Some of these guys started in our 4th and 5th teams and they’ve come through. That’s what we are about, we are a performance team with a really high development focus.
“We have a culture which has been taken on by everyone in the club. It’s an environment we all enjoy and we’re definitely going to enjoy this moment.”
Player of the match Freddy Rossigneux, who scored one try and set up the other, added: “The heart we showed and the way we dug deep tells you everything about this team. We use around 50 players a season and the boys who come in know their detail, know what they have to do and they buy in.
“We are a tight-knit bunch, right through the 1s, 2s, 3s, and it’s that Brothers culture that really puts us apart.”
Bath, sponsored by Bath Building Society, fielded 49 players over the course of the season and won 15 of their 18 matches, scoring 101 tries and 73 conversions. Prop Alfie Griffin and half-back Roman Andrews appeared in every match-day squad, with Isaac Mears and Iwan Coyle missing just one game apiece, and co-captain Max Pearce was top try scorer with 11.
They went into Wednesday’s match in pole position following the previous week’s crucial victory over Loughborough but knew they would have to win against a Durham side who were the last team to beat Bath, all the way back in early November.
The visitors handled the pressure superbly and opened the scoring inside six minutes when, from Harry Walker’s punt forward, full-back Rossigneux produced some great handling to collect the bouncing ball and race over the line for Bath’s 100th try of the season.
James Beverley had a simple conversion and he also added the extras when Bath notched their second try just before the half-hour mark. Rossigneux was again involved, taking a big hit as he caught a Durham clearance into the Bath 22 but somehow regaining his feet and surging forward before passing inside for winger Rocky Prowse to race into the corner.
Bath’s well-drilled defence kept Durham at bay until the 54th minute when hooker Louis Inman managed to force his way over and Louie Platt’s conversion cut the gap to 14-7.
The visitors quickly forced a penalty at the other end, though, and Beverley’s successful kick eased the pressure on Bath, who saw out the remaining 25 minutes to secure a historic victory.
Bath, who are also supported by Team Bath partners Rengen, have another shot at silverware in the BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship and will entertain Cardiff in the quarter-finals. That match is taking place on the 3G Pitch at the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 25th March (6.30pm), free admission for spectators.