Bath come back to sink Saints in historic quarter-final

Bath flanker Alfie Barbeary came off the bench to secure an impressive Investec Player of the Match award thanks to his insatiable force ball-in-hand. 

Speaking post-match, Barbeary was visibly delighted with the result: 

“It was a mental game and a class result”, he said.

“Our belief is a big part of this group.

“We didn’t look at the scoreline - we knew that if we stuck to our process we’d put in a performance, and we did that.

Fellow back rower Miles Reid was quick to praise The Rec’s atmosphere and the extra boost it gave the side late on: 

“This crowd is amazing. When they get behind you it’s the best place to play rugby.

“We knew we had the players in the bank to go and score. “The bench made a massive difference and we knew we had that power coming on.

Bath left it late to become the first side through to the Investec Champions Cup semi-final after they saw off Northampton Saints on Friday night.

What the second half lacked in early scores, it certainly didn’t in intensity. But the first try of the half eventually came just before the hour mark as Kepu Tuipulotu finished off a driving maul as Bath edged closer.

Investec Player of the Year nominee Alfie Barbeary impressed with his post-contact metres as Bath kicked their way to within touching distance.

Pollock saw yellow eight minutes from time which helped get the crowd even more inspired - and it was the man advantage they needed to eventually edge one over on 77 minutes.

It was Finn Russell’s conversion that ticked the hosts two points into the lead and ultimately seal their first semi-final in 20 years.