Event of the Day: Bath Rugby versus Scarlets

Our event of the day is the European Rugby Champions Cup match between Bath Rugby and Scarlets at the Recreation Ground in Bath. Bath are first in Pool 5 with 13 points after four rounds, the second team is the French side Toulon, level on points with Bath. Scarlets aren’t far behind though, as they sit in third-place with 12 points. Bath’s only game of 2018 so far has been a comfortable 46-25 away win over Worcester Warriors last Friday, in the English Premiership. Scarlets have recorded three straight victories in Pro14 - against Ospreys and Cardiff Blues at the end of the last year, and against Dragons last Friday (47-13 at home).

 

Both clubs are aiming to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup, either by winning the pool or finishing as runners-up, so with two rounds to go, this could prove to be a decisive match. When the two teams net in October, Bath won as visitors 18-13. The English side has scored the fewest number of tries of all teams in the competition so far, just seven, but it is their strong defense that has brought them top of the pool standings. Bath hooker, Tom Dunn, has made 89 tackles, 22 more than the next player on the list. Scarlets’ scrum half Gareth Davies has scored four tries in the last two Champions Cup games. It should be a thrilling match at The Rec.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the opening day of the EurAsia Cup at the Glenmarie Golf Country Club in Malaysia. The third edition of the golf event that sees the contest between a team of Asian players take on a team of European players, ends on Sunday. Arjun Atwal captains the Asia team, while Thomas Bjørn is the captain of European team. In the Big Bash League, the Melbourne Renegades host the city rivals Melbourne Stars at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. In the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks face the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center in Chicago. It’s Day 2 of the BMW SA Open golf tournament at the Glendower Golf Club in Edenvale, South Africa; and Day 2 of the Sony Open in Hawaii at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. In tennis, it’s Day 6 of the Sydney International at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in Sydney; and the fifth day of the ATP Auckland Open at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland. There is plenty of action in the NBA, with the Indiana Pacers versus the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis; as well as the Milwaukee Bucks against the Golden State Warriors at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by EPC Rugby