on-eng-1 on-FRA-1 No ALT tag specified
Heineken Cup Home
European Challenge Cup
Fans Poll
Which will be the most challenging Pool to qualify from?
Pool 1
Pool 2
Pool 3
Pool 4
Pool 5
Pool 6
Previous Poll Results
Which northern hemisphere national team will perform the best in the summer tours ?
Ireland (31%)
England (23%)
France (21%)
Wales (13%)
Scotland (8%)
Italy (5%)





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is the image banner
Bath lift European Challenge Cup
24 - 16
Kingsholm, Gloucester   Att: 16,157
Sunday 25th May 2008, 12:00
MatchDayLive - Live audio and text tracking
  • European Challenge Cup Final Highlights: Bath Rugby V Worcester Warriors
20080525Lift_300
Match report
Bath’s decade long drought without silverware is over as they ended the 2007/8 season with the European Challenge cup in their trophy cabinet.

After defeat in the 2003 and 2007 finals, it was third time lucky for the English team who ground out an impressive win over Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm.

Outgoing skipper Steve Borthwick lead by example and was a tower of strength in the lineout on his way to becoming Fed Ex Man of the match.

Bothwick, who joins Saracens next season, was carried aloft by his jubilant teammates after a titanic tussle in appalling conditions.

Worcester won the toss and opted to play with the wind at their backs in the first period.

It mattered not as Bath dominated possession and territory in the first quarter, and deservedly took the lead on 15 minutes with a Olly Barkley penalty.

Barkley went on to score a second penalty a drop goal and a conversion, but it was tries from Jonny Faamatuainu and Nick Abendanon that put the game beyond the reach of brave Worcester.
Bath Rugby V Worcester Warriors
 PDCTPosPlayerPlayerPosTCDP 
Replacement off



1

Nick Abendanon
15
Thinus Delport

1










Joe Maddock
14
Marcel Garvey












Alex Crockett
13
Dale Rasmussen





Replacement off
Replacement off
2
1
1


Olly Barkley
12
Sam Tuitupou












Matt Banahan
11
Miles Benjamin







1




Butch James
10
Shane Drahm




3
Replacement off
Replacement off





Michael Claassens
9
Matt Powell





Replacement off
Replacement off





David Flatman
1
Tony Windo





Replacement off
Replacement off





Lee Mears
2
Aleki Lutui












Matt Stevens
3
Tevita Taumoepeau





Replacement off






Steve Borthwick (capt)
4
Greg Rawlinson






Man of the Match





Danny Grewcock
5
Craig Gillies





Replacement off




1

Jonny Faamatuainu
6
Drew Hickey





Replacement off
Replacement off





Michael Lipman
7
Pat Sanderson (capt)






Replacement off





Daniel Browne
8
Kai Horstmann






Replacements
Replacement on





Pieter Dixon
16
Chris Horsman





Replacement on
Replacement on





Duncan Bell
17
Matt Mullan





Replacement on
Replacement on





Peter Short
18
Will Bowley





Replacement on
Replacement on





Zak Feaunati
19
Netani Talei





Replacement on
Replacement on





Nick Walshe
20
Ryan Powell





Replacement on
Replacement on





Shaun Berne
21
Joe Carlisle


1


Replacement on
Replacement on





Tom Cheeseman
22
Rico Gear





Replacement on
Penalty Tries
0
0
First half timeline
18Bath RugbyA lovely floated pass from Crockett to Mallett opens up the Worcester defence, but Mallett knocks on as he goes to ground and Worcester have a scum on their 22
19Worcester WarriorsTaumopeau collapses the scrum for a second time and Bath have a free kick and piur forward with first Stevens, then Grewecock, then James. Eventually Tuitupou brings the attack to an end with a huge tackle that forces Barkley to spill the ball
21Worcester WarriorsDrahm makes 70m with his kick, and Bath's lineout is a shambles, Tuitupou gathers at the tail and soon finds himself in the shadow of the posts
22Bath RugbyBorthwick penalised at the breakdown and Drahm lines up a close range kick at goal
23Worcester Warriors
Penalty kick - S Drahm
The fly half levels the scores
24Bath RugbyBath fight back with ball in hand, but there is no way through the Worcester defence, and the ball is turned over
25Worcester WarriorsWorcester are up to the line after Delport broke the gain line and darted down the right touchline, Bath infringe at the ruck and Worcester kick to the corner
25Bath RugbyBorthwick saves the day for Bath, winning a crucial lineout to deny Worcester the chance of a drive to the line
29Bath RugbyStill, this game is being played at frantic speed, both sides desperate for a breakthrough
31Bath Rugby
Try - J Faamatuainu
A sensational try for Bath, great offloading, lovely hands and a neat inside ball from James puts his flanker in in the corner
32Bath Rugby
Conversion - O Barkley
Barkley adds the extras from a tight angle
33Bath RugbyHands in the ruck from Sanderson, but Barkley's shot hits the left hand upright
34Bath RugbyBath are first to the bouncing ball, but it becomes unplayable and they have a scrum, which they win and control and are metres from the line
35Bath Rugby
Try - N Abendanon
They score their second try and the Bath fans applaud another sensational score. The full back is the man who dots down after Barkley goes wide and Maddock offloads inside to Abendanon
35Bath RugbyNo joy for Barkley as his coversion from the tricky angle flashes in front of the posts
39Worcester Warriors
Penalty kick - S Drahm
Drahm scores a crucial penalty to give his side hope with just 40 minutes to play
Second half timeline
41Worcester WarriorsDrahm kicks off the second half, and the first passga eof play comes to an end when Bath's James attempts a long range drop goal that finishes well wide of the mark
43Worcester WarriorsWorcester charge down a kick, and scamper to collect the loose ball.. but Mears hauls down the chasing players to concede a penalty
45Worcester Warriors
Penalty kick - S Drahm
Drahm scores from the right hand touchline, 25m out
46Worcester WarriorsWorcetser enjoying thier best period of play in the match, but the momentum dies when a forward pass is spotted by referee Christophe Berdos
49Worcester Warriors
Substitution - N Talei on for D Hickey
49Bath RugbyAnother fine take from Grewcock at a lineout on halfway, and the Bath pack drive 10m into Worcester territory, eventually Abendanon kicks to touch to put pressure on the Worcester lineout
50Worcester WarriorsThe lineout just holds up and the ball is cleared by Drahm
51Worcester Warriors
Substitution - M Mullan on for T Windo
51Bath RugbyWorcester have the momentum and almost score as Garvey stretches to reach a crossfield kick from Drahm in the right hand corner, but he knocks on and Bath have a scrum five meters from their line
52Worcester WarriorsAnother collapse, and Bath kick the ball to touch
53Bath Rugby
Penalty kick - O Barkley
Bath weather the storm and extend their lead with a Barkley penalty
56Worcester Warriors
Substitution - C Horsman on for T Taumoepeau
56Bath RugbyBoth sides are using the boot to try and earn territory, with less than half an hour to play no one wants to make what could be a crucial error
60Bath Rugby
Substitution - D Bell on for D Flatman
61Worcester WarriorsWorcetser desperately trying to find a hole in the solid Bath defence
63Worcester WarriorsWorcetser wing Benjamin opens his legs and to the Bath 10m line, the midland's side desperately need a try, eventually they throw a forward pass and the moment has gone
65Worcester Warriors
Substitution - R Powell on for M Powell
65Worcester WarriorsDrahm is turned over as he collects a high ball in his 22, but any hope of a Bath score is snuffed out when Bath are penalised for holding on, Drahm kicks to halfway
66Worcester WarriorsThe game is paused while the sides get physical with each other after the lineout
67Bath Rugby
Substitution - P Short on for M Lipman
67Bath Rugby
Drop kick - O Barkley
68Worcester Warriors
Substitution - R Gear on for D Rasmussen
68Worcester Warriors
Substitution - W Bowley on for C Gillies
71Bath Rugby
Substitution - P Dixon on for L Mears
71Bath Rugby
Substitution - Z Feaunati on for D Browne
71Bath Rugby
Substitution - S Berne on for O Barkley
73Worcester WarriorsWorcester pile forward, desperate for a score
74Bath RugbyAfter a turnover, the pack are up to teh Worcester line, they claim a try but the ref needs to consult the TV official
75Bath RugbyBath control possession and territory and have a penalty in the shadow of the posts
75Bath Rugby
Penalty kick - B James
No mistake from the South Afrcan as bath extend their lead
78Bath Rugby
Substitution - N Walshe on for M Claassens
78Bath Rugby
Substitution - T Cheeseman on for N Abendanon
78Worcester Warriors
Substitution - J Carlisle on for S Drahm
79Worcester Warriors
Conversion - J Carlisle
Carlisle's conversion is the final act of the match, Bath have won the European Challenge Cup
79Worcester Warriors
Try - T Delport
The full back scores a consolation try for his side, but it's too little too late
80Bath RugbySteve Borthwick is named Fed Ex man of the match
Results so far
Bath Rugby
DateStageOppositionScore
25/5/08FinalWorcester WarriorsW 24-16
26/4/08Semi FinalsSale SharksW 36-14
5/4/08Quarter FinalsLeeds CarnegieW 57-5
19/1/08Pool 1AuchW 31-13
12/1/08Pool 1Overmach Rugby ParmaW 31-13
15/12/07Pool 1AlbiW 59-15
7/12/07Pool 1AlbiW 26-18
17/11/07Pool 1Overmach Rugby ParmaW 28-0
10/11/07Pool 1AuchW 28-6
Worcester Warriors
DateStageOppositionScore
25/5/08FinalBath RugbyL 16-24
25/4/08Semi FinalsNewcastle FalconsW 31-16
5/4/08Quarter FinalsMontpellierW 36-26
19/1/08Pool 2BucurestiW 46-0
11/1/08Pool 2MontaubanW 24-7
15/12/07Pool 2G.R.A.N ParmaW 66-16
8/12/07Pool 2G.R.A.N ParmaW 50-0
17/11/07Pool 2MontaubanW 41-18
10/11/07Pool 2BucurestiW 18-8
Related news
Previous Challenge Cup meetings
DateStageHomeScoreAway
Sun 25th May 08FinalBath Rugby24 - 16Worcester Warriors
Challenge CupHistory
Bath Rugby
2007/08 - Champions
2006/07 - Runners up
2003/04 - Semi Finals
2002/03 - Runners up
Worcester Warriors
2007/08 - Runners up
2006/07 - Pool 5
2005/06 - Semi Finals
2004/05 - Round 1
Legal Notice delivered by Sotic powered by RedDot
Did You Know?
Dafydd James, the Llanelli Scarlets threequarter, requires just one try to become the first player to score 25 Heineken Cup tries.
Heineken Cup Forum
Latest 3 forum threads:
Heineken Cup wallpapers
Trip to Calvisano - Any tips on where to stay things to do?
Disabled Supporters
ERC eZine
Register now to receive the very latest club rugby news from around Europe.
Challenge Cup Countdown


Challenge Cup Forum
Latest 3 forum threads:
Who is Sonny Bill Williams
Fixtures 08-09?
Final Destination - Why Kingsholm?!!