Van Graan's Bath thrash Section Paloise
MATCH REPORT: A seven-try rout helped Bath progress into the European Challenge Cup quarterfinals with a 49-24 victory at Section Paloise.
The runaway Premiership leaders dropped into the competition following a Champions Cup group-stage exit in January, but Johann van Graan’s team showed their appetite for more silverware with an impressive display away to the Top 14 outfit.
Fresh from winning the Premiership Rugby Cup Final against Exeter last month, Bath scored four tries in the first half to take control of the last-16 tie and keep their side of the bargain to book a last-eight berth potentially against rivals Gloucester, who visit Montpellier on Saturday.
Will Muir got the ball rolling for Bath when he crossed over after two minutes before he turned provider for Joe Cokanasiga midway through the opening 40.
The floodgates were open now with Beno Obano and Josh Bayliss able to jot down to help Bath establish a 28-10 lead at half-time.
A try by Tom Dunn immediately after the interval ensured Bath remained in complete control before Ruaridh McConnochie and Miles Reid wrapped up the victory with further scores.
Ciaran Donoghue capped a man-of-the-match display with a 100 percent record from the kicking tee with seven conversions.
The scorers:
For Section Paloise:
Tries: Tuipulotu, Brau-Boirie 2
Cons: Desperes 3
Pen: Desperes
For Bath:
Tries: Muir, Cokanasiga, Obano, Bayliss, Dunn, McConnochie, Reid
Cons: Donoghue 7
Teams:
Section Paloise: 15 Aymeric Luc, 14 Eliott Roudil (captain), 13 Olivier Klemenczak, 12 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 11 Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, 10 Axel Desperes, 9 Thomas Souverbie, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 7 Thibaut Hamonou, 6 Joel Kpoku, 5 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 4 Thomas Jolmes, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Youri Delhommel, 1 Ignacio Calles.
Replacements: 16 Romain Ruffenach, 17 Hugo Parrou, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Remi Picquette, 20 Jimi Maximin, 21 Reece Hewat, 22 Dan Robson, 23 Tumua Manu.
Bath: 15 Ruaridh McConnochie, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 9 Ben Spencer (captain), 8 Miles Reid, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Ross Molony, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Kieran Verden, 19 Ewan Richards, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referee: Rob McDowell (Scotland) & Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
