Matt Banahan returned to his old stamping ground and carried on what he used to do in Bath colours for his new side Gloucester with a vital corner try. Having left the Rec with 100 tries to his credit in 264 appearances for Bath, he certainly knew his way to the try line. The fact he was able to score a minute before the end in front of his father-in-law’s hospitality box simply made the moment all the sweeter.
“We never let the game get away from us and we showed great courage to the final minute. The majority of my family had to be neutral because they are from Bath but had to support me as well,” said Banahan. “I scored under my father-in-law’s box with my wife going potty, so that was a good feeling at the end of a strange day.”
Danny Cipriani makes an instant impact as Gloucester take flight against Saints
Banahan not only scored the vital fourth try for Gloucester but also helped to make it by winning the kick-off after Elliott Stooke had seemingly won the game with a corner effort for Bath that Rhys Priestland converted off the touchline to make it 31-24. It was the first time Bath had taken the lead in a game in which they fell 21 points behind in a first half dominated by the brilliant Danny Cipriani.
A superb kick through and regather paved the way for the first of Ruan Ackermann’s two tries and it was his pass under pressure that created a gaping hole in the home defence to allow the flanker to race 30 metres for his second. Callum Braley then scampered over to make it 21-0 and Bath were all at sea. Tries either side of the break by hooker Tom Dunn got them back in the contest before Semesa Rokoduguni went in.
“At 21 points down it was a fantastic test of character for our boys. I am really proud of them because they showed a lot of resilience and had to dig deep to come back,” said the Bath director of rugby, Todd Blackadder.
From 21-21 it went to 24-24 with an exchange of penalties before Stooke went over with five minutes to go. Then came the cavalry charge from Banahan and dramatic proof that old habits die hard.