Bath come up short against La Rochelle

Bath started the game well and forced Stade Rochelais into a series of errors as the rain continued to fall.

A penalty from the boot of Finn Russell opened the scoring in the 5th minute after Stade Rochelais were pinged within touching distance of their own try line.

The visitors rallied and edged ahead in the 18th minute with a try through Oscar Jegou, converted by Ihaia West.

A second converted try on 27 minutes for Stade Rochelais, through a rampaging Reda Wardi from close range, put his side 3-14 up.

Russell added another penalty for Bath on 30 minutes but back came the French side.

In what was comfortably the best move of the first 40 minutes, Tawera Kerr-Barlow darted over for a third score after a quick line-out move created space for the nine.

With the weather conditions creating a greasy ball, both teams took opportunities to kick for territory with the half-time whistle bringing a 6-21 score for Stade Rochelais.

With the second-half underway, Charlie Ewels was able to pinch a couple of early line-outs and help Bath get up the pitch, much to the delight of The Rec faithful.

Sure enough, the momentum paid off and Tom Dunn powered over as the backs joined the rolling maul to drive Bath's hooker over the line in the 48th minute. Russell added the conversion.

The home side added their second try in the 57th minute when Quinn Roux reacted brilliantly to touch the ball down under the posts after a kick chase through the Stade Rochelais defence.

A West penalty nudged the visitors four points ahead, 20-24, in the 58th minute.

With both sides slugging it out under a swirling wind, it became a real test of character and skill as the clock ticked down towards the 80-minute mark.

Next Sunday (December 15, kick-off 13:00), Bath are away at Benetton Rugby in Round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup.

Bath Rugby's next European fixture at The Rec comes against ASM Clermont Auvergne on Sunday 12 January, 17:30.

SCORES

BATH RUGBY

Tries: Tom Dunn (48), Quinn Roux (57)

Conversions: Finn Russell (48, 57)

Penalties: Finn Russell (5, 30)

Drop goals: N/A

STADE ROCHELAIS

Tries: Oscar Jegou (18), Reda Wardi (27), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (32)

Conversions: Ihaia West (18, 27, 32)

Penalties: Ihaia West (58)

Drop goals: N/A

TEAMS

Bath Rugby: 1 Thomas du Toit, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels ©, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Miles Reid, 9 Louis Schreuder, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Will Butt, 13 Cameron Redpath, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Jaco Coetzee

Stade Rochelais: 1 Reda Wardi, 2 Tolu Latu, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Thomas Lavault, 5 Will Skelton, 6 Oscar Jegou, 7 Matthias Haddad, 8 Grégory Alldritt (c), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10 Ihaia West, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 12 Jonathan Danty, 13 Ulupanon Seutani, 14 Jack Nowell, 15 Brice Dulin

Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Louis Penverne, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe Reazel, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Levani Botia, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Hugo Reus, 23 Teddy Thomas