Sam Burgess joins in Bath’s bruising victory over Montpellier

Bath’s failure to secure a bonus point spoilt an otherwise impressive display as they demolished a poor Montpellier side.

Despite leading 30-0 with half an hour left and introducing Sam Burgess and England internationals Rob Webber, David Wilson and Dave Attwood to the action, Mike Ford’s side failed to find the fourth try that would have reignited their European campaign.

Instead they were left thinking about what might have been, and will now have to rely on Glasgow and Toulouse taking points of each other in their double-header over the next week.

Ford refused to blame his second-half substitutes for failing to claim a fourth try that had looked a certainty when Leroy Houston went over for their third after 50 minutes. “I unleashed the bench and I thought we had enough time to get that bonus point. We are unbelievably frustrated the game turned so scrappy,” he said.

“It’s tough for the England boys, they have been in camp for four weeks and played four tough, physical Tests and they have had to come back into Europe the week after. It was always the plan to bring them off the bench after 50 minutes and yes we are disappointed not to get the fourth try but credit to Montpellier for getting themselves back into the game. But Sam has more game time, which is a massive bonus for us.”

Burgess had little chance to make an impact on his European debut and it was the England international George Ford who once again enhanced his reputation with a commanding display. The 21-year-old outside-half continued the excellent form he showed in the autumn internationals with 15 points, slotting straight back into the starting line-up with ease despite the monsoon-like conditions.

He kicked a drop goal and penalty before Montpellier handed the initiative to the visitors when the flanker Antoine Battut was shown a yellow card for striking scrum-half Chris Cook off the ball, allowing Ford to put Bath nine points in front with his second penalty.

With a one-man advantage it was no surprise to see Bath trying to shunt their way over the try-line and after an excellent drive by Alafoti Fa’osiliva, who had replaced Carl Fearns after just eight minutes, Henry Thomas forced his way over from close range.

Montpellier had been back up to a full 15-man complement for barely two minutes when their captain, Thibaut Privat, became the second player to see yellow, this time for taking out the support player at the line-out. It instantly cost the home side as from the resulting penalty Bath were award a penalty try and Ford’s second conversion gave them a commanding 23-point lead at the interval.

Bath’s third try came nine minutes into the second half and they made a mockery of the atrocious conditions with Ford once again heavily involved. Dave Sisi broke down the wing and found Ford on his shoulder, he popped the ball inside and Thomas did superbly to pick it up off his toes and feed Kyle Eastman, who found Houston to finish off a remarkable score in the conditions.

Montpellier seemed determined to make their task even more difficult, and the replacement hooker Charles Geli was sent to the sin bin for going over the top of a ruck. But there was a late rally from the home side and from a powerful driving line-out No8 Alex Tulou got their first try, with Stuart Hooper then shown a yellow card for the visitors for taking a player out illegally, ending Bath’s hopes of getting a fourth try.