Bath smash Sale Sharks in LV=Cup

Bath made full use of their home side advantage at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, beating Sale Sharks by 40 points to 7 in the group stages of the Anglo Welsh LV= Cup.

The home side got the battle off to a good start when they scored a try in the second minute. Winger Michael Stephenson, who ended the game on three tries, crossed the line and Ryan Davis added the extras to make it 7-0 early on.

Centre Matt Carraro added to the score in the 10th minute for Bath, which Davis easily converted. Former Stormers hooker Pieter Dixon added the third try five minutes later and Davis again slotted the conversion and Sharks seemed to have no answer at the Rec.

The visitors seemed to recognise their predicament and in the 23rd minute they managed to pull the score back by seven points. Kristian Orsmby went over for the try and Mark Atkinson added the extras to make it 21-7.

The comeback didn’t last long though, as Stephenson bagged his brace in the 31st minute for Bath. Davis continued his good form with the boot to make it 28-7 at the break.

The second half was a battle of wills and neither side were able to dominate, but Stephenson secured his hat-trick with another try, and Davis continued to hoof them over and converted easily.

The home side went down to 14 men in the 65th minute when Guy Mercer was sent to the sin bin, but his absence made no difference.

Bath: Abendanon, Cuthbert, Carraro, Davis, Stephenson, James, Bernard, Barnes, Dixon, Bell, Hooper, Short, Browne, Mercer, Skerving

Replacements: Mears, Catt, Jarvis, Fa’amatuainu, Ovens, Baxter, Cheeseman

Sale Sharks: Vakacegu, Ripol, Davies, Bishop, Cohen, Atkinson, Leck, Kerr, Schwalger, Halsall, Schofield, Cox, Fearns, Seymour, Ormsby

Replacements: Jones, O’Donnell, Birhcall, Jones, Kench, Cliff, Cheeseman