Tom Dunn shines on record-breaking appearance as Bath crush Leicester

It could yet be that these 2 groups will meet again in this season’s Premiership last at Twickenham. If so Leicester will need to look for some different services. This meeting of the leagues’s top 2 was compared to a “heavyweight boxing clash” by Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, and even the capability of Leicester’s defence to soak up a lots of punishment was insufficient in the end.Bath emerged triumphant on a marvelous early summertime night, helped by a memorable shot for Tom Dunn, setting a brand-new club record for the most Premiership appearances– 184– in the well-known blue, black and white striped jersey. If the one-handed offload from Finn Russell was not eye-catching enough, the hooker’s elegant dummy and subsequent 20-metre sprint to the line were genuine collector’s items.Advertisement Friday’s Challenge Cup last against Lyon in Cardiff is now Bath’s next target

and, aside from

a hopping Camera Redpath, they have actually managed to sidestep major injury to their star guys. Maintain their momentum for another month and this truly could be a special season, with Russell’s quality and their excellent bench resources as soon as again conspicuous here.Leicester were likewise denied a losing bonus offer point and, for all their bristling competitiveness, were not able to muster a single point in the 2nd half. The Tigers, however, still have a home game against bottom-placed Newcastle to play and it remains all however certain they will have a home semi-final in next month’s playoffs.The Northampton replacement prop Tarek Haffar scored 2 tries in the final quarter of a 28-24 home Premiership win that put a substantial dent in Saracens’hopes of securing an end-of-season playoff spot.The visitors, who were 24-7 ahead at one stage, looked proven winners however an impressive and spirited comeback saw Saints score 3 transformed shots, one with the last play of the game.Advertisement Saracens

have actually now lost on their last five journeys to Northampton and their defeat indicates that the playoff place is now out of their hands as a Bristol triumph next week will secure the West Country side that yearned for fourth-placed position.Tom Willis, Juan-Martín González, Alex Goode and Rotimi Segun each crossed over for Saracens, with Fergus Burke converting 2. Haffar scored twice for the hosts, with Josh Kemeny also on the try-scoring sheet. There was also a charge try award, with Rory Hutchinson kicking two conversions and Fin Smith including one.The Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall, explained his side’s defeat as “a painful experience”. He added:”We were all over the place in the last 20 minutes. In the very first half we played with intensity and precisely as we had actually planned to have the much better of full-strength European Cup finalists, but after that we

were actually bad.”The winning shot scored by Haffar in the final minute came from a streaming relocation however there were clear suspicions of two forward passes. As a result, there were lengthy tv match main reviews but the shot was permitted to stand regardless of the protestations of their skipper, Maro Itoje. McCall said:”Everybody understands if it doesn’t look right and it probably didn’t

however I have not studied any replays in information.”PA Media Ad Until the final quarter, it produced a thoroughly taking in contest. Leicester, under the soon-to-depart Michael Cheika, have actually been boxing creative in current weeks and, for the most part, the Tigers’capability to keep their opponents well marshalled in midfield made them difficult opponents.It was a real increase for Bath, then, when they delighted in a start to match the ideal background

. Ben Spencer constantly

has a keen eye for a gap but even he should have been amazed at the area that suddenly opened as he ran 35 metres direct from a lineout to score in the best corner.Beneath a cloudless blue sky, the Tigers also had to cope with an early check out to the sin-bin for their England forward Ollie Chessum after a high obstacle on Will Muir that, on other days, might have been a red card. They remain a resilient bunch, however, and even with 14 males they were anything but cowed.With advantage being played a beautiful chip over the top from Jack van Poortvliet was plucked out of the air by a skyrocketing Joe

Woodward who likewise succeeded to dot the ball down. The lead proved just fleeting, Bath rumbling over in the shape of Beno Obano with Chessum still off the pitch.Advertisement Exeter have employed Dave Walder as an assistant coach, the former head coach of Newcastle signing up with the Chiefs’training personnel following current departures of Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher.

Walder has also dealt with Bristol and England Under-20s. Exeter are ninth in the Premiership, having won just four of their 16 league games, with the defeats consisting of a record 79-17 loss at Gloucester in April. The Chiefs have 2 Premiership fixtures staying this season, visiting Harlequins on Sunday and then hosting Sale on 31 Might. PA Media With

Dunn also shown a yellow card the momentum quickly swung again. Some home fans felt Freddie Steward’s long scoring pass might have drifted forwards however there was absolutely no doubt about Adam Radwan’s flying surface in the corner.Radwan would have had a second almost immediately however for an incredible cover tackle from the long-striding Ted Hill, enjoying another great game. It was also Hill who break clear at the other end to alleviate a lengthy period of pressure and established the position from which Russell put Quinn Roux over for Bath’s 3rd try of the afternoon.It gave the hosts a four-point half-time lead that,

given Bath’s bench depth, boded well for the hosts. So it proved, a pleased Dunn bringing the house down with his shot, Will Stuart including a fifth and further tries for Joe Cokanasiga and Will Butt sealing the win. Bath are not champs yet however here was another effective second-half declaration of intent.