Cherries on top as Gloucester cream hot and cold Bath

9:18am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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POSSESSION may be nine tenths of the law but in rugby it's tries that count, writes Paul Thomas.

And that couldn't be more true when you analyse one of the most pulsating matches of Premiership rugby and one which was on the last day of the regular season, and one which was between the two top clubs, and one which is one of the most hotly contested local derbies anywhere in the country and in any sport - Gloucester versus Bath.

That Bath held the ball and were more creative and assertive was matched only by the intensity of defence, nearly but not quite at the standard of last year's immense try line tussle between Castres and Wasps in the Hieneken Cup.

On that occasion I saw Wasps' gladiatorial spirit rebuff the French onslaught time and again to advance on what was another European glory trail for the London side.

On Saturday at Kingsholm there was wave after wave of Bath backs passing and running from the halves and three quarters but crossing the line was forbidden by the Cherry and Whites.

The first half of this titanic duel by two utterly committed sides showed top class British rugby at its absolute bestand then tactically dire.

All the scoring took place in the first half with Gloucester then Bath kicking for goal from penalty for an early 3-3 encounter.

Injury prone England centre, Mike Tindall, limped off in the 15th minute with a damaged ankle for Willie Walker to replace him from the bench.

Bath too, have injury problems as two fellow England internationals, Matt Stevens (shoulder problem) and Lee Mears (shoulder strain) who both played in piratical mood up front, face an anxious wait to see if they take part both for club in the next game and country later.

A bruising encounter then with Gloucester full-back Ian Balshaw having to go off for a bandaged head before returning to the field to continue an outstanding game of ebulient and crusading catch and run as he led a counter charge from the rear.

And after soaking up a boiling Bath it was classic counter punching that eventually sunk the away team.

Gloucester wing, James Simpson-Daniel, who has bulked up and shaven his head this season, managed the only try of the game.

Just ten minutes after a rocket-propelled try-saving tackle on Bath prop Stevens as he looked odds on to score, Simpson-Daniel, who took the man of the match award, used guile, angle, poise and blistering pace to finish a move created on the Gloucester right as the ball went through the lines.

Ryan Lamb passed to Akapusi Qera who then delayed his pass to Anthony Allen and Walker then Simpson-Daniel whose half pirouet at break-neck speed saw him break the try line.

The second half was as depleted of thoughtful endeavour by Bath as it was replete in the first.

Far too often Gloucester-bound Bath 10 Olly Barkley guilty of kicking the ball away cheaply only for it to be returned with interest by an in-form Balshaw and others. At best Bath were red hot in the first half but luke warm in the second.

In front of new England manager, Martin Johnson, this West Country collision should have been the final most of us were waiting forand still could be.

While Gloucester enjoy a home semi-final play-off against fourth placed Leicester on Sunday Bath are not out of it as they travel to Wasps in a bid to reach the Twickenham final.

Both games are knife-edged but in this form Gloucester deserve to be there.

Whether Bath can take the sting out of Wasps' late charge for yet another title will be down to whether they can leave the hot tap running.