The University of South Wales continued to show why they are considered to be the top student side in Wales with a 14-10 victory over Bath in the Quarter-Final of the BUCS Trophy.
Bath would have been buoyed by their previous visit to USW when they finished the stronger side and could well have caused an upset if that match was 85 minutes long rather than 80. USW held on for a 24-20 win on that occasion.
USW have averaged 32 points per match in BUCS League 1A West this season, but it was clear from the outset that this would be a much tighter affair.
In a tight first half there was little to separate the sides with USW having the edge in the physical battle in the middle, and Bath looking more dangerous out wide.
A single converted try to each side tied the scores at 6-6 at half-time, and USW had to face the next 40 minutes without powerful Scorpions forward Osian Phillips who left the field during the first half with a painful looking hand injury.
With time ticking on it was a case of "Cometh the hour, cometh the man" as half-back James Kelly first kicked a penalty and then chipped ahead to score a classy try. He then converted his own try to make the score 14-6 and take his personal tally to 10.
Bath struck back with a try of their own to make the score 14-10 and set up a tight finish.
USW seemed incapable or unwilling to simply see the game out with safety sets and continued to try unnecessary offloads in search of further points.
In the final few minutes USW Captain Harrison Elliott felt he had pushed his way over for a nerve-settling try, but the tiring referee was not in a position to award the try.
To their relief the final whistle came preventing a Bath comeback and USW progress to the Semi-Final to play Nottingham University.
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