Emanuel late show seals first title for Bath
BATH won the Premiership U18s Academy League in dramatic fashion thanks to some last gasp heroics from centre Steffan Emanuel and flyhalf James Linegar.
Bath led 19-12 at halftime but Saints staged a comeback inspired by a wonderful solo try from Ben Agbenu. With the score 33-26 with nine minutes to go, Bath were held up allowing Linegar to return a goal-line drop out with a 35m plus drop goal and move Bath within striking distance.
Then, with less than a minute on the clock, Emanuel received the ball out wide following a multi-phase move to beat his man and score in the corner for 34-33, securing Bath’s first ever academies title and condemning Saints to a third consecutive final defeat.
Bath’s win was the final game of seven in a brilliant advert for the country’s next generation of talent at Kingsholm.
Sale secured third place with a 45-26 win against Exeter. Sale have arguably been the form side in the tournament since Christmas and overcame a points deficit in the respective north and south tables before the game to win third place.
Saracens have found form in recent weeks with three straight wins and winger Jack Bracken scored four tries as they claimed fifth place with a 45-7 win over Midlands West (formerly Worcester).
Leicester won the seventh place play-off, beating Bristol 22-17 in their final which had a scoreline of 19-17 until the late stages.
For ninth, reigning champions London South Central (formerly London Irish) beat Midlands Central (formerly Wasps) 31-19, with help from an Oscar Thomas hat-trick.
The first game of the day was the 11th place play-off, won by a Yorkshire Academy side that have also chosen the best time to peak; they beat Harlequins 24-19.
The wooden spoon match took place midway through proceedings and Gloucester used their home advantage to good effect to win 44-24 against Newcastle.