Bath power shows

Newcastle Red Bulls took on Bath at a grey and drizzly Kingston Park this afternoon in a physical Gallagher Prem clash.

Fast start required, fast start delivered

I said in my preview that Red Bulls would have to start fast and start fast they did. Ollie Leatherbarrow ran an excellent line which was converted to give Red Bulls a 7-0 lead early doors. Bath scored a couple of tries through Dan Frost including one which may've not been given on a different day as the downward pressure was questionable.

In the early stages and for most of the first half, I have to give Sammy Arnold a mention who carried hard to create some front foot ball for Red Bulls. Amanaki Mafi scored a try off the back of a maul and Red Bulls took a 14-12 lead. Bath hit back to take a 14-19 lead into half time. Miles Reid, who I said in my preview doesn't have a bad game proved this again. He was excellent for Bath this afternoon, being a nuisance at the breakdown and carrying hard.

I did think that Red Bulls could consider themselves unlucky to not be in the lead at half time and arguably they played their best half of league rugby this season. They were committed and matching Bath in the physical battle and dealt with the conditions well.

A lineout in the first half at Kingston Park.

Bath's physicality takes its toll

Red Bulls had to start the second half as well as they started the first, unfortunately Bath came out and scored early to take a 14-26 lead. From there it was always going to be tough, Sammy Arnold was yellow carded and then Bath emptied their full bench in a flex of strength that no one in The Gallagher Prem would be able to live with.

At this point I was fearful that the floodgates could open but to their credit, Red Bulls kept on battling and fighting. The game ended 14-50, when you look at the calibre of player Bath introduced from the bench you knew Red Bulls would have to have a lead to stand any chance in the second half.

Bath are a very good team and it's going to take some effort to stop them being back-to-back champions this season. The challenge for them is what they can do in The Champions Cup as that's an area of improvement for them after they failed to make the knockout stages last season. Yes, there's questions about how they front load salaries. But Bath have always been big spenders but culturally they were all over the place. Johan Van Graan has built a culture that everyone has bought into, they're seeing the rewards of that groundwork now.

Bath empty their bench.

Set piece improvement

The Red Bulls scrum was solid throughout the game and the lineout until George McGuigan went off was massively improved from earlier in the season. Credit has to go to Oscar Usher who continues to impress in his first full season at this level and Seb De Chaves added his experience to things.

I also thought there was some signs in the first half that the attack is starting to evolve, this will definitely improve as the seasons goes on.

Who else impressed?

Simon Benitez Cruz put in a solid performance at scrum half, he's a fiery character but also a bit of a live wire. As I've said above Sammy Arnold was at the fore of getting Red Bulls on the front foot, anything good in attack started with an Arnold charge. I think the pack as a whole deserves credit as that was a very good forwards unit that they were up against today.

For Bath, Miles Reid was my man of the match for them, he was everywhere and a nuisance at the breakdown.

Next up

Red Bulls travel to an in form Bristol next Saturday. They'll be looking to put on a similar show to what they did at Twickenham yesterday. It'll be a tough one for Red Bulls and these are the kind of games in the past where teams have scored a fair few points when the attack gets going.

Match experience

I always like to put in a quick bit on this one, I was in The North Stand today and it was probably better than it has been. The only thing I would say is the speaker system in there isn't very good. Club kit is starting to be on sale in the shop and the fan zone in the north west corner of the ground is quite good to be fair. I know it was a Sunday afternoon, it was more noticeable today that there was more families in attendance.