1996/97 Quarter-final: Cardiff Rugby 22 Bath Rugby 19

The pair first met in the quarter-final of the 1996/97 Heineken Cup after Bath finished second in Pool 1 and Cardiff equalled that accomplishment in Pool 4 – the contest taking place at Cardiff Arms Park.

Scoring in the opening 40 minutes came solely from the boots of Mike Catt and Jonathan Davies – the Welsh fly-half outscoring his counterpart three penalties to two for a 9-6 half time lead for Cardiff.

Catt added a further two penalties in the second period to regain the lead for Bath before Nigel Walker produced a stunning solo effort to notch Cardiff’s lone try of the contest. Lee Jarvis then added two long range penalties to extend the score to 22-12. Bath flanker Nathan Thomas added a consolation try for the visitors as Cardiff advanced to the semi-finals.

1997/98 Quarter-final: Bath Rugby 32 Cardiff Rugby 21

The two teams met one year later, this time at The Recreation Ground in Bath with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs once again. Bath advanced to the knockout stages by winning Pool 3, while Cardiff finished a close second in Pool 4.

Bath notched a trio of tries in the contest, Phil de Glanville, Victor Ubogu and Dan Lyle crossing the whitewash in addition to 17 points from the boot of Jon Callard who was in excellent form from the tee.

The Welsh region also dotted down twice in the contest, Leigh Davies crossing for both of the visitors’ scores. Lee Jarvis notched 11 points with three penalties and a conversion. Bath would go on to secure their only Champions Cup success to date that season.