Latest news with #trophyTreble
The Independent
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Tom Dunn hails Ben Spencer's ‘contagious' effect after Bath's Challenge Cup win
Tom Dunn has hailed captain Ben Spencer's 'contagious' effect on the club after Bath edged closer towards an historic trophy treble. Dunn and company added the EPCR Challenge Cup to a cabinet that already contained the Premiership Rugby Cup by beating Lyon 37-12 in Cardiff on Friday. Having guaranteed themselves a home Premiership play-off in April – possibly against west country rivals Bristol at the Recreation Ground on June 6 – Bath are two wins away from league title glory. It all represents an astonishing transformation from just under three years ago when head of rugby Johann van Graan arrived at the club from Munster. Bath propped up the Premiership in 2022, losing 18 league games and finishing 60 points behind regular-season table-toppers Leicester. Dunn, who joined the club 10 years earlier, has been through thick and thin and made more Premiership appearances for Bath than any other player. And he readily recognises the contribution of England international scrum-half Spencer to Bath's success, which he underlined with a player-of-the-match display against Lyon. 'Ben is brilliant,' Bath hooker Dunn said. 'It is the example he sets. 'He emptied the tank. He chases every kick, he is our main man in defence, he is the one who sets the tempo. 'Boys like me push the piano – he plays it. His decision-making, his skill, his accuracy is contagious to the team and the entire group. He is an example on the pitch.' Reflecting on Bath's Challenge Cup success, Dunn added: 'The hunger has been there for as long as I can remember. 'This isn't the end – there is no end to it. The hunger is huge, and it is driven mostly by the players who aren't playing. 'They are the ones that push us in the week, they are the ones that drive the standards in training. They paint the pictures that we want to paint on the weekend.' Bath, 15 points clear at the Premiership summit, face Saracens in their final regular-season game next weekend. Attention will then turn to the knockout phase, with Bath closing in on a second successive Allianz Stadium appearance following their 25-21 defeat against Northampton in last year's final. Spencer said: 'The (Challenge Cup final) performance was something that has been building for a very long time, and to see the hunger, see the fight of this group was unbelievable. 'These moments don't come around very often, and you have to enjoy them and embrace them. We've worked hard for this trophy. 'This group is unbelievably hungry to get better, and I have no doubt on Tuesday we will back to zero, which is something we speak about all the time.'
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Bath set sights on treble after Challenge Cup glory
Bath stayed on course for a possible trophy treble after beating Lyon 37-12 to lift the Challenge Cup in Cardiff. It was Bath's first major silverware since they won the same competition in 2008 under the captaincy of current England head coach Steve Borthwick. They add the Challenge Cup to Premiership Cup success earlier this season, and are two victories away from league title glory. Johann van Graan's team overcame first-half yellow cards for Sam Underhill and Will Muir at the Principality Stadium to subdue dogged opponents and post the tournament's biggest winning margin in a final since 1998. Tries from hooker Tom Dunn, centre Max Ojomoh, prop Beno Obano and captain Ben Spencer saw Bath home, while Spencer's half-back partner Finn Russell kicked four conversions and three penalties. Lyon led through wing Ethan Dumortier's early score, with number eight Arno Botha also touching down – fly-half Leo Berdeu added one conversion – but Bath were comfortable winners. They appear to be on an unstoppable roll ahead of a Premiership play-off in two weeks' time, when their opponents could be west country rivals Bristol. Lyon monopolised possession from the kick-off, and they rocked Bath through a well-worked try after just four minutes. The forwards built strong attacking foundations, and Dumortier evaded Muir's challenge to cross in the corner, although referee Hollie Davidson consulted television replays before awarding it after checking Dumortier's foot was not in touch. Bath collected points from their first venture into Lyon's 22 when Russell kicked a penalty, and they soon grew into the contest, illustrated when centre Will Butt was only denied a try by Lyon scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud's saving tackle. The Premiership title favourites kept battling, though, and they were rewarded when Dunn took a quick penalty and dived over for a try that Russell converted. Lyon were firmly on the back foot, and Bath struck again after 25 minutes when Spencer fired out a long pass to Ojomoh, who finished impressively. Russell's conversion opened up a 12-point lead. The French side found it hard work finding a way through Bath's defence, although they gained a temporary numerical advantage 11 minutes before half-time when Underhill was yellow-carded following head-on-head contact with Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili. Bath were guilty of more poor discipline just six minutes later after Muir tackled Dumortier in the air, and he also saw yellow. Lyon had to capitalise, but Dumortier was denied a second try after obstruction on Dunn at the back of a lineout, and Bath led 17-5 at the interval. A Russell penalty opened the second-half scoring, increasing Lyon's degree of difficulty, yet they responded impressively through Botha's powerful effort and Berdeu's conversion cut the deficit to eight points. Bath had no intention of letting things slip, and a try from Obano midway through the third quarter that Russell converted restored an element of breathing space. And Spencer's try 17 minutes from time took Bath past 30 points, ending Lyon's resistance, and then a long-range penalty completed an emphatic success.
BreakingNews.ie
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Bath beat Lyon to win EPCR Challenge Cup and edge closer to trophy treble
Bath stayed on course for a possible trophy treble after beating Lyon 37-12 to lift the EPCR Challenge Cup in Cardiff. It was Bath's first major silverware since they won the same competition in 2008 under the captaincy of current England head coach Steve Borthwick. Advertisement They add the Challenge Cup to Premiership Cup success earlier this season, and are two victories away from league title glory. Johann van Graan's team overcame first-half yellow cards for Sam Underhill and Will Muir at the Principality Stadium to subdue dogged opponents and post the tournament's biggest winning margin in a final since 1998. Tries from hooker Tom Dunn, centre Max Ojomoh, prop Beno Obano and captain Ben Spencer saw Bath home, while Spencer's half-back partner Finn Russell kicked four conversions and three penalties. Lyon led through wing Ethan Dumortier's early score, with number eight Arno Botha also touching down – fly-half Leo Berdeu added one conversion – but Bath were comfortable winners. Advertisement They appear to be on an unstoppable roll ahead of a Premiership play-off in two weeks' time, when their opponents could be west country rivals Bristol. Lyon monopolised possession from the kick-off, and they rocked Bath through a well-worked try after just four minutes. The forwards built strong attacking foundations, and Dumortier evaded Muir's challenge to cross in the corner, although referee Hollie Davidson consulted television replays before awarding it after checking Dumortier's foot was not in touch. Bath collected points from their first venture into Lyon's 22 when Russell kicked a penalty, and they soon grew into the contest, illustrated when centre Will Butt was only denied a try by Lyon scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud's saving tackle. Advertisement The Premiership title favourites kept battling, though, and they were rewarded when Dunn took a quick penalty and dived over for a try that Russell converted. Lyon were firmly on the back foot, and Bath struck again after 25 minutes when Spencer fired out a long pass to Ojomoh, who finished impressively. Russell's conversion opened up a 12-point lead. The French side found it hard work finding a way through Bath's defence, although they gained a temporary numerical advantage 11 minutes before half-time when Underhill was yellow-carded following head-on-head contact with Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili. Bath were guilty of more poor discipline just six minutes later after Muir tackled Dumortier in the air, and he also saw yellow. Advertisement Lyon had to capitalise, but Dumortier was denied a second try after obstruction on Dunn at the back of a lineout, and Bath led 17-5 at the interval. A Russell penalty opened the second-half scoring, increasing Lyon's degree of difficulty, yet they responded impressively through Botha's powerful effort and Berdeu's conversion cut the deficit to eight points. Bath had no intention of letting things slip, and a try from Obano midway through the third quarter that Russell converted restored an element of breathing space. And Spencer's try 17 minutes from time took Bath past 30 points, ending Lyon's resistance, and then a long-range penalty completed an emphatic success. Advertisement
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Bath beat Lyon to win EPCR Challenge Cup and edge closer to trophy treble
Bath stayed on course for a possible trophy treble after beating Lyon 37-12 to lift the EPCR Challenge Cup in Cardiff. It was Bath's first major silverware since they won the same competition in 2008 under the captaincy of current England head coach Steve Borthwick. They add the Challenge Cup to Premiership Cup success earlier this season, and are two victories away from league title glory. Johann van Graan's team overcame first-half yellow cards for Sam Underhill and Will Muir at the Principality Stadium to subdue dogged opponents and post the tournament's biggest winning margin in a final since 1998. Tries from hooker Tom Dunn, centre Max Ojomoh, prop Beno Obano and captain Ben Spencer saw Bath home, while Spencer's half-back partner Finn Russell kicked four conversions and three penalties. Lyon led through wing Ethan Dumortier's early score, with number eight Arno Botha also touching down – fly-half Leo Berdeu added one conversion – but Bath were comfortable winners. They appear to be on an unstoppable roll ahead of a Premiership play-off in two weeks' time, when their opponents could be west country rivals Bristol. Lyon monopolised possession from the kick-off, and they rocked Bath through a well-worked try after just four minutes. The forwards built strong attacking foundations, and Dumortier evaded Muir's challenge to cross in the corner, although referee Hollie Davidson consulted television replays before awarding it after checking Dumortier's foot was not in touch. Bath collected points from their first venture into Lyon's 22 when Russell kicked a penalty, and they soon grew into the contest, illustrated when centre Will Butt was only denied a try by Lyon scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud's saving tackle. The Premiership title favourites kept battling, though, and they were rewarded when Dunn took a quick penalty and dived over for a try that Russell converted. Lyon were firmly on the back foot, and Bath struck again after 25 minutes when Spencer fired out a long pass to Ojomoh, who finished impressively. Russell's conversion opened up a 12-point lead. The French side found it hard work finding a way through Bath's defence, although they gained a temporary numerical advantage 11 minutes before half-time when Underhill was yellow-carded following head-on-head contact with Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili. Bath were guilty of more poor discipline just six minutes later after Muir tackled Dumortier in the air, and he also saw yellow. Lyon had to capitalise, but Dumortier was denied a second try after obstruction on Dunn at the back of a lineout, and Bath led 17-5 at the interval. A Russell penalty opened the second-half scoring, increasing Lyon's degree of difficulty, yet they responded impressively through Botha's powerful effort and Berdeu's conversion cut the deficit to eight points. Bath had no intention of letting things slip, and a try from Obano midway through the third quarter that Russell converted restored an element of breathing space. And Spencer's try 17 minutes from time took Bath past 30 points, ending Lyon's resistance, and then a long-range penalty completed an emphatic success.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Johann van Graan wants Bath to ‘enjoy the moment' in Challenge Cup final
Johann van Graan wants Bath to 'enjoy the moment' when they continue their quest for a possible trophy treble in Friday's EPCR Challenge Cup final against Lyon. Bath will arrive at the Principality Stadium with this season's Premiership Rugby Cup already secured, while they are Gallagher Premiership leaders by 15 points and booked a home play-off in April. The twin prizes of European success and domestic title glory are tantalisingly close, with Bath firm favourites against opponents currently 11th in the French Top 14. It will be Bath's fifth Challenge Cup final appearance. Victory over Worcester at Kingsholm 17 years ago was their last major piece of silverware. Head of rugby Van Graan has transformed standards – and expectation levels – since arriving at the club from Munster in 2022, and he said: 'This is a special moment for the club. 'It is the first European final that we as a group have played in. It's exciting, and we have got to enjoy the moment, as that is what finals are about. 'It's one-off, we are playing against a good side. Keep it simple, stick to your process, keep doing the things that got you into the final. 'We want to get better. If you think about it, we've improved in every single area, so we are not about to stop now. 'We will keep trying, keep finding a better way. One of our sayings is our process needs to lead to performance. If it doesn't lead to performance, then let's find a better way to do it. 'You have got to back yourself that we will become better as a group. You go through experiences together, so this is another experience for us.' Van Graan has made four changes from the side that beat Premiership opponents Leicester 43-15 last time out. Tom de Glanville returns at full-back, with centre Max Ojomoh taking over from an injured Cameron Redpath, and there are also starts for England tighthead prop Will Stuart and number eight Miles Reid. The game, meanwhile, will be refereed by Hollie Davidson, who becomes the first female official to take charge of a European Professional Club Rugby final. It is the latest high-profile appointment for Davidson, who was part of on-pitch officiating teams in the 2024 and 2025 men's Six Nations and 2024 Rugby Championship. Lyon have shown impressive Challenge Cup form this season, beating the likes of Racing 92, South African heavyweights the Sharks and Ospreys in their bid to regain a trophy they won three years ago. Van Graan added: 'They have a good maul – specifically their five-man maul – a good scrum, and they've got some fantastic broken-field runners. 'As a group, we needed to get to know them a bit more, but it has been 90 per cent focused on ourselves and what do we need to do and how do we improve.'
