Victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne in the final of the European Challenge Cup would be a ray of light in an otherwise dismal season for former Heineken champions Bath Rugby.

Bath scored four tries on their way to a one-point victory after a see-saw semi-final against Saracens. They opened up a comfortable first-half lead and withstood a late rally from Saracens to book a place in the final at Twickenham Stoop on May 19, the final score being 31-30.

Bath head coach Steve Meehan said: “Saracens executed set-pieces very well and put us under a lot of pressure but the guys scrambled and worked really hard for each other.


“It was one of those games where defence wins you matches, but we were quite positive in attack as well.”


It will be the second time Bath have reached the final of the European Challenge Cup having lost 48-30 to Wasps in 2003 at Reading’s Madejski Stadium.


Their semi-final win over Saracens highlighted the attacking qualities of Steve Meehan’s Bath team who find themselves in the wrong half of the Premiership table, and just 80 minutes away from cup silverware.


Sunday’s victory came on the back of an emphatic quarter-final win over local rivals Bristol. Bath ran in seven tries in a rampant display of running rugby they hope to emulate in the final against highly-fancied French side Clermont.


“It was a show of desire at wanting to be in the European final,” said Meehan.