Comeback doesn't wash with Bath coach

12 April 2012

Bath head coach Steve Meehan insisted that he was not content with a share of the spoils after his side came back to draw 21-21 with title contenders Gloucester at the Recreation Ground.

Olly Barkley was the star for the home side, showing unwavering accuracy to kick seven penalties out of seven and keep in tact Bath's 20-year unbeaten league run over their west country neighbours.

"It is disappointing not to have won it. A lot of teams would have been happy - we aren't," said Meehan. "But we did show tremendous character and great pride among the players to come back from 18-9 down."

Bath scrapped their way back into the game in the second half with a no-nonsense pick-and-drive game and Meehan added: "It was not pretty, but it was quite effective. Every time we used it to drive into their 22 we got a penalty."

On Barkley, the man who earned the draw with his sehventh successful kick, Meehan added: "Olly has got a lot to play for, a lot to prove. He needs to play like that every week."

Gloucester director of rugby Dean Ryan preferred to focus on his side's mental approach in a fixture which has consistently denied his side victory over two decades.

Ryan, whose side scored the only tries of the game through Will James and James Bailey, said: "We have got to use today as a stepping stone and we have got to learn to take risks.

"It's a very fine, emotive game, and when you are on the front foot everything is going well. When we played the first half we were in control and looked a good side, but when you lose that flow you get scratchy.

"In those situations you have got to keep playing even to the extent of taking risks."

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