Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 2: Bath clinch home quarter after Bordeaux breeze
Bath secured a home fixture in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup after dispatching Bordeaux-Begles 54-13.
Last Updated: 17/01/14 9:07am
Already assured of a last eight place, Bath made it six wins from six in the competition - four of which bonus point triumphs - after running in eight tries against their French opponents on Thursday night.
As well as securing home advantage, the victory also ensures Bath will avoid any 'best losers' from the Heineken Cup competition in the next phase.
Marauding wing Tom Biggs started the ball rolling after just 86 seconds and, despite struggling for fluency as the half progressed, Bath struck twice more before the interval through George Ford and Anthony Perenise to lead 21-6 at the break.
Floodgates
The home side needed just six minutes to register the bonus point try they craved, the inspirational Ford teeing up Jonathan Joseph for a decisive score.
With Bordeaux at sixes and sevens defensively the floodgates opened midway through the second half with three further Bath tries in the space of 11 minutes.
Dominic Day profited from a fumble to scamper home for Bath's fifth score of the evening and Semesa Rokoduguni strolled over minutes later following a dazzling solo run.
Kyle Eastmond proved an attacking menace all evening and showed great strength to touch down on 61 minutes, Ford missing his first conversion of the evening to keep the score at 47-6.
Despite their plight Bordeaux battled gamely and, after Bath replacement Ryan Caldwell was sent to the sin-bin for dangerous play at the line-out, the visitors grabbed a consolation try against the 14-men through Gilem Queheille.
Bath had the last laugh, though, Rokoduguni stepping off the wing to complete the rout with his second try and his side's eighth.
Newport Gwent Dragons missed the chance to finish second in the pool after failing to collect a bonus point in their 24-12 win at Italian champions Rugbby Mogliano.
Ross Wardle and Wayne Evans scored in the space of four minutes as Dragons were forced to overturn a 9-3 half-time deficit at Stadio Maurizio Quaggia.
Steffan Jones levelled the scores, with prop Nathan Buck in the sin bin, before the two tries and five points from replacement Kris Burton, but the Dragons could not grab a bonus even though Mogliano finished the game with 13 men.
