London Wasps retained the Zurich Premiership title with a gritty 10–6 victory over Bath Rugby at a packed Twickenham — their second successive championship, completing a remarkable Heineken Cup and Premiership double in 2003/04.
London Wasps retained the Zurich Premiership title with a hard-fought 10–6 victory over Bath Rugby at Twickenham in front of 59,500 spectators, completing a stunning Heineken Cup and Premiership double — the first side to achieve the feat in the same season.
This game won't win many beauty pageants, but for sheer graft and pure desire — the two elements omnipresent throughout the whole Zurich Premiership season — there are few Finals that come close. Bath led the Premiership table from October through to the finish-line, and they took on the newly crowned European champions with relish.
The much-heralded Wasps forward unit stalled on its starting block. Hooker Trevor Leota could not find his line-out jumpers for love or money, losing eight of his own throws in the first half alone. Bath fly-half Chris Malone duly took advantage and slotted an early penalty to give Bath a 3–0 half-time lead, despite Rob Howley's interception effort being correctly ruled out for advantage.
Wasps fly-half Alex King cancelled out Bath's advantage after the re-start with a snapped drop-goal. Malone replied in kind on 56 minutes to restore Bath's lead at 6–3, and the match was perfectly poised with 25 minutes remaining.
Warren Gatland finally acted, replacing the wayward Leota with Ben Gotting in the 53rd minute. The fresh hooker's arrival transformed Wasps' lineout and gave them front-foot ball. Flanker Paul Volley — in his final Wasps appearance before joining Castres — got in Malone's face and forced an errant pass. Tom Voyce pounced on the loose ball and fed Stuart Abbott who had appeared at his shoulder, the England centre racing to the corner for the decisive try.
Mark van Gisbergen converted from the touchline on 64 minutes to make it 10–6. Malone and then Mike Catt — winning what proved to be his final Bath cap — both attempted drop-goals in a tense finale, but neither was successful. In the last agonising minutes Bath were awarded two kickable penalties but elected to kick to the corner both times, and each time Wasps repelled the driving maul.
When referee Chris White spotted a Bath knock-on with Wasps barely a metre from their line, it was over. Man of the match Paul Volley departed to a standing ovation — his relentless, claustrophobic pressure on Malone having directly created the decisive score. Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio lifted the trophy once more, and Warren Gatland left for New Zealand having delivered back-to-back Premiership titles and a European crown.