Bath coach pleased
Bath coach Steve Meehan said he was very pleased with the side's effort and attitude during the win over London Irish on Saturday.
Bath won the first game of the season and followed this win up with another positive performance at The Rec. Although the side only scored one try during the game, Olly Barkley performed superbly in the kicking role converting five penalties.
Bath now sits at the top of the Premiership table with a one point margin over Northampton in second. Meehan is a very happy coach and does not seem at all annoyed with any part of Bath's game so far this season.
Bath looks in very good shape and the side has hit the ground running this season unlike the club's title rivals. However, the team has to keep this momentum up over the next couple of weeks.
In good shape
Bath looks in good shape across a number of areas. The side is moving the ball around well and this makes Bath very difficult to defend against. The side is also moving the ball quickly, which stretches the opposition and creates gaps to score.
Attitude and mentality look very good across the whole club. London Irish took a very physical approach to the match with Bath but the side stayed disciplined and focused on scoring points and not retaliating.
The new players at the club seem to have settled in very well and very quickly. The experience of Lewis Moody was key during the match with London Irish because it was clear there were a few heated players in the Bath side during this match.
Meehan said: "To be honest, I felt comfortable the entire game, particularly in the second half when we looked a lot better as a team. It was tight, but it was always going to be. Both teams defended pretty well, there were only one or two half-chances that opened up, and your accuracy has to be excellent to take them."
Keep momentum
Bath's main ambition this season is to win the Premiership title in what has been called the toughest Premiership league in history. The side has momentum at the moment and it's important that Bath keeps this momentum heading into further games.
This is crucial because momentum creates confidence and a buzz within the team. This has the ability to inspire players who will raise their performance levels. This will make Bath harder to beat and will give the side a much better chance of winning over a longer campaign.
Lewis Moody added: "It was a good battle defensively, a tough encounter, and the forwards really had to make those hard yards. When you are at home for the first time in the season getting a win is a big confidence-booster, especially after you have fallen behind late in the game. I never thought we were going to lose."
Betting advice
Anyone who had doubts over how Bath was going to start the season will have now had those doubts calmed. Have a punt on the side winning the Premiership because the team has started much better than apparent title rivals.
Barkley looks like a superb candidate to back for top scorer at the club and in the league. His kicking will carry the side in close matches where it's very difficult to get over the line and score tries.
Bath seems to be very fluent at the moment and this means the side stands a great chance of securing a big win in the near future. Don't be afraid to back Bath to secure a big points total against a smaller team.
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