POWERGEN CUP FINAL
Saturday 16th April 2:30pm
Bath v Leeds Tykes
It’s the Powergen Cup Final on Saturday at Twickenham and Bath, unbeaten in 10 finals, face a Leeds Tykes side making their first appearance at Headquarters.
Bath are finishing the season on a high and won their third league game on the run on Saturday when they beat Northampton at the Rec. They moved up to third in the league and with London Irish and Leeds to play in their last two games, will be looking to stay in that position. Bath have an incredible record in the domestic cup competition. They reached 10 finals in the 1980s and 1990s and won them all. They last won the cup in 1996 and since then, this season is the first time they have progressed past the quarter-final stage. To reach the final they have beaten Harlequins at the Rec followed by thrilling away wins at Sale and Gloucester.
Leeds have had a difficult season but have had two excellent wins in the last fortnight, beating Leicester and Gloucester, to keep their hopes of remaining in the Zurich Premiership alive. They still occupy 12th and last position in the league, but only three points separate the bottom five. They have a very average cup record. Their best performances prior to this season were reaching the quarter-finals in 2002 and the semi-finals last season. They beat Bath 21-10 in the quarter-final last season before losing at Sale. To reach Twickenham they have beaten Pertemps Bees at home, Northampton away and London Irish at Headingley.
Bath and Leeds have played each other seven times in the Zurich Premiership and Bath have won four to Leeds’ three. Bath have won the last three, including an injury –time 30-28 win at Headingley in November. They will be strong favourites to maintain their 100% record in Powergen Cup finals on Saturday, but Leeds will be difficult opponents, and Bath will need to be on top form to make it 11 from 11.
Prediction: Bath to win by 10 points |
