Effort all in vain

Bath 17-10 Edinburgh Edinburgh had conceded 30-odd points the previous week, right? This would be one way traffic, right? Wrong, actually.

"The live TV seems to be good for us," Cammie Murray had said before the game, remembering Northampton last year, and he was nearly so right as a win came tantalisingly close.

If Glasgow need any inspiration before their game today, then they can take it from this Edinburgh performance. Coach Frank Hadden's side showed real attitude and, perhaps without the pressure upon them with a season slipping away, it was their way of sticking two fingers up to critics. Motivation is what you need.

Bath, who knew victory would guarantee them a place in the European Cup knockout stages, were the ones playing with tension. They know their rugby in Bath, and many local fans were full of praise for Edinburgh.

But it was another loss. "That's what's happening to us," said Heineken man of the match Graham Dall. "We play well but we're not winning. We are not as bad a team as our results say."

It's hardly surprising, I suppose, that the Edinburgh management team have been giving blokes like me harsh stares, or just looking past, but even in the glory of a superb game and a brave effort we had to understand that it was another loss, even though great players such as Bath's Danny Grewcock were eclipsed for much of the game.

Rugby is such a beguiling and enthralling sport that you can't help but come away from some sporting occasions enriched and lighter of heart, and this was one such case as Edinburgh and their coaches - who have had piles of rubbish tipped over their heads, primarily, it has to be said, by me - produced a tantalising glimpse of what they are capable of doing.

Players who once demonstrated in club rugby that they were men apart, and I am talking of the likes of Dall and Calvin Howarth, decided on the day to forget Bath's proud history and put in such barnstorming displays that they could, should, and nearly did, win this one.

It was not until Edinburgh were reduced to 14 men after Richard Metcalfe was sin-binned that all their efforts were undone, and once more it was the influential Mike Catt that did the damage.

Frankly, this game wasn't one to start us dwelling on the injured list and talk of how Chris Paterson and Martin Leslie and Simon Taylor might have improved things, and how the anticipated Antipodean arrivals will change things for the better.

No, this was a day to recognise that both Andrew and Dall played out of their skins in the back row, and to note the efforts of Steve Scott, Alan Jacobsen and Craig Smith in the front row. It's not rocket science to say that Smith might struggle in some scrums, but his work rate was outstanding as he sought to carry the ball.

Scott was superb, with even a delicate chip to his name and Jacobsen was as willing to eclipse his opposite man in the loose as Smith.

Behind the scrum, Graeme Burns and Duncan Hodge were crisp and speedy, with Hodge looking much quicker than in his early days.

Both Kevin Utterson and Marcus Di Rollo coped with their bigger opponents, and there was always the sneaking suspicion that, despite Bath's pace, if Conan Sharman or Cammie Murray got their hands on the ball there was damage to be done out wide.

Most pleasing was a stiffened defensive system where Edinburgh were very abrasive, driving their attackers back in the tackle to startling effect together, and one cruncher by Scott on his opponent Mark Regan was a joy to behold as the English hooker was sent skyward.

Lineouts were evens, as were the scrums, so it all boiled down to who could get through the midfield or round the outside, and Kevin Maggs in Bath's centre proved a tough customer.

Early on, only a shocking Dan Lyle pass denied Bath a score, and the much vaunted home team produced error after error as nerves took hold.

Edinburgh were deservedly leading at the break, with the only try of the first 40 minutes. Perry had kicked Bath into a six-point lead with two penalties when Hadden's men switched into overdrive and a neat chip after decisive running allowed Kevin Utterson to dive on the ball.

Indeed, Utterson more than proved his worth as he span out of tackles all day and looked menacing in the face of world class players. He showed that he had both the pace and strength to do real damage.

After the break, Edinburgh attacked wide with Sharman and Lee both seeing the ball, and Dall ever present to accept the odd titbit. But Bath inched closer and closer as Perry stroked two more penalties.

Then, just as Edinburgh looked as though they had the measure of their opponents, Metcalfe was sin-binned. The in-form Catt raced past Matt Taylor into the midfield, his flying winger Tom Voyce was close on hand to his left, and as Howarth was drawn to the tackle, Voyce found himself the grateful recipient of a pass and a clear run to the line.

The try, however, did not open the floodgates - in fact, Edinburgh pounded the line as they sought the score that would bring them back on level terms.

Nathan Hines went for it but was turned over, a maul was pulled up by Monsieur Dume when it looked as though the visiting pack might score, and only frantic defence kept them out.

It was a battling performance, yet it was ultimately in vain. However, if Edinburgh had played like this all year they would be a successful side, not one still desperately seeking wins.

Bath M Perry; I Balshaw, K Maggs, O Barkley, T Voyce; M Catt, A Williams, D Barnes, M Regan, S Emms, S Borthwick, D Grewcock, G Thomas, M Gabey, D Lyle Edinburgh C Howarth, C Murray, M Di Rollo, K Utterson, C Sharman; D Hodge, G Burns; A Jacobsen, S Scott, L Smith, N Hines, R Metcalfe, G Dall, M Taylor, A Dall Referee J Dume (France).

Copyright 2001
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