When Peter Short snaked out a long arm to try and ground the ball for a score that would take Bath within 4 points of Clermont with just over 10 minutes to go I was convinced he had lost control and the video ref would call for a scrum. From my position in the the North stand the decision looked straightforward, however having watched the play over and over again on TV I find myself in one of those petrol gauge moments. Do you know what I mean whereby if you stare at your petrol gauge from the left it looks as thought your tank contains more fuel than if you stare at it from the right and therefore you've another day's driving without going to the petrol station? Was it a try or wasn't it? Clearly the report in today's paper will say it wasn't and that's all that matters, but if you watch it again.....

Having said that about Short's attempt at a try this wasn't why we lost the game and I believe the best team won on the day. What was amazing for me was that Bath were 6-3 up at half time having had to defend like Trojans because the mighty backs of Clermont hit on them like an overly active lothario in his favourite hotel lounge, yet the second half was by far a stronger time for Bath and Clermont scored 19 points.

Picture courtesy Empics

Sitting behind the posts in the dying moments of the match as each of the Bath players had a turn at breaking the French defence was as an exciting period in sport as I ever remember. Watching David Barnes pulling the rolling maul forward, just yards from the try-line, face purple and sinews standing out like strands of rope was something that will remain in my mind for a very long time. As was the despair on Danny Grewcock's face as he dropped the final pass, whilst having Maddock unmarked outside him, and he knew the game was up.

In those final five minutes both teams gave everything to their cause, this wasn't just a game of rugby it was every man pushing himself to his limit knowing victory was just another tackle or missed tackle away. I'm gutted that we lost but I'm still exhilarated by those moments that were condensed from a whole season. 

Several reasons struck me as to why Bath lost yet another final, first and foremost Cleremont were a damned fine side playing with pace and purpose and being able to finish off many of their attacking moves with scores. It was only some fine Bath defensive play in the first half and the intervention of a touch-judge's view for a forward final pass before the Cleremont winger touched down that kept the score down to 6-3 after 40 minutes. From my vantage point Cleremont were in complete control of the first half and should have been comfortably ahead at the break.

Picture courtesy Empics

Second and third reasons have to be missed tackles and dropped passes. There were too many of these to give Bath a realistic chance of winning this game yet, at the end, we were within a few feet of snatching an unlikely victory. The missed tackles emanated from excellent Cleremont running and passing, their speed and timing out of defence was as good as I've seen all season. The dropped passes came from pressure, both opposition and self-induced. Bath were under pressure from themselves having lost so many finals and semi-finals of late and there was an air of desperation at times.

Players like Berne and Barkley are confidence players who, in the right circumstances can change a game with a little bit of magic. However, just like the favourite of many Bath fans, Mike Catt, put them under pressure and their game can fall apart. This game was made for Chris Malone and, in my opinion he should have started. He could have sat back in the pocket and pushed the game forward with his booming kicks. Both Berne and Barkley's kicks from hand looked too short to do real damage and so we missed (ironically) the sort of penetration Malone can deliver.

Picture courtesy Empics

Personally I am very disappointed that Chris Malone has now left our club and I believe all the knockers and doubters will see what we're missing next season when we only have confidence players managing our game. 

The high point of the game for Bath was Joe Maddock's try. For one moment I thought the little guy had stepped in to Nick Abendanon's boots, such was the mastery of his sidesteps. He left the French defence flat-footed and raised the roof as a dis-heartened Bath support suddenly saw a glimmer of light at the end of what seemed to be a very long tunnel. That it wasn't to be shouldn't detract from the difference this score made to the game. In truth Maddock's run set up the game for a marvellous finish, I just wish I was a neutral so I could have really enjoyed the final twists and turns.

Picture courtesy Empics

Bath scrummaged well, stealing the ball and turning their opponents' scrum to gain possession but too often they couldn't take advantage from this activity. Also the line out was very strong, with two steals at crucial times. It was ironic that in such a strong area of our game, Pieter Dixon should so disastrously over-throw the ball at an attacking penalty line-out deep in to the second half when we had the opposition on the rack and could have evened up the scores.

The atmosphere at the game was electric, the noisiest match I can ever remember attending. Given the noise of the French supporters in the North stand, it would have been easy to think they had far more fans in attendance. The Stoop has become a magnificent stadium and one which is ideal for this type of match. Playing games of this sort in stadia far too big for the attendance is a mistake and whoever opted for The Stoop made a good call.

Finally, hopefully to make you smile: I as walked away from the Stoop totally hacked off at the result my wife came up with the immortal line of "Well, at least we had a nice day out." One day I'll get around to saying that nice days out are winning days out.

Have a restful summer.

Clermont Auvergne: A Floch; A Rougerie (capt), G Esterhuizen, T Marsh, J Malzieu; B James, P Mignoni; L Emmanuelli, M Ledesma, M Scelzo, J Cudmore, T Privat, S Broomhall, M Dieude, E Vermeulen.
Replacements: B Miguel, G Shvelidze, L Jacquet, G Longo, A Troncon, S Bai, R Chanal.

Bath: N Abendanon; J Maddock, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, O Barkley, D Bory; S Berne, N Walshe; D Barnes, L Mears, M Stevens, S Borthwick (capt), D Grewcock, A Beattie, M Lipman, Z Feaunati.
Replacements: P Dixon, A Jarvis, P Short, J Scaysbrook, A Williams, C Malone, T Cheeseman.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

In memory of Richard Andrew: a true gentleman.

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