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Bath’s Inconsistency Leaves Questions To Be Answered Before 2018-2019 Season

Half-time Score

"Half-time Score" (CC BY 2.0) by Fearless Fred

It has been a tough season for Bath in the 2017/2018 Aviva Premiership, finishing mid-table with the same number of wins as losses. Not only have those supporters who enjoy spending a few pounds on betting on the club’s success lost out, they might have put their pride aside to gamble against a win at The Rec.

It hasn’t always been fun to watch as Todd Blackadder’s team suffered from inconsistency during the year; in part, this was the result of losing their best players to international call-ups during the Six Nations, injury or both.

In fact, despite a winning run in January, bookmakers weren’t excited about the prospect of a Bath win but the club’s up and down season meant odds were fairly unattractive for either result as online betting firms sat on the fence. Like the supporters, they’ll be eager to find out if Bath can answer some of those prevailing questions.

Blackadder is eager to have a strong pre-season summer to build on end-of-year successes, including beating Gloucester away from home and thrashing London Irish 63-19. If the club can keep backs Jamie Roberts, Jackson Willison and Will Chudley fit, they’ll be better placed to compete with the likes of current champions Saracens.

Charlie Matthews in the air

"Charlie Matthews in the air" (CC BY 2.0) by Fearless Fred

But it’ll take some reinforcements too. Upcoming talent Joe Cokanasiga has been signed on a 3-year deal that will see the 20-year-old winger have a chance to impress at The Rec. In fact, indicative of his potential, he was recently called up for England duty in the team’s loss against the Barbarians.

Experience might be another answer to avoid a repeat of Bath’s 2017-2018 woes. As such, Blackadder has brought in 31-year-old Alex Davies from Yorkshire Carnegie. He’ll join the team’s powerful backline which includes England sevens star Ruaridh McConnochie.

They’ll each need a little bit of luck, which the club’s fans will hope extends to the rest of the team come the start of the 2018-2019 campaign. And with new recruits comes renewed optimism, something the club deserves given the talent it possesses. It might mean more fans through the turnstiles, more England call-ups, and hopefully a successful Champions Cup campaign and a place in the Aviva Play-Offs.

Of course, these new recruits are complemented by the appointment of attack coach Girvan Dempsey. He leaves Leinster having guided them to European Champions Cup glory. It’s a further sign Bath are beginning to put together the pieces for a strong championship run.

With optimism comes renewed anticipation too. Those fans interested in sports betting might be inclined to put a few quid on Bath with more confidence than last season. In fact, with the best betting sites of 2018 like Paddy Power offering a £30 bonus for first-time deposits, there may be a few people taking advantage of online betting firms offering

enhanced odds on their favourite rugby union team. It’ll make “Bath to win” an attractive proposition, where they may not have been due to their inconsistency.

Bath will hope a strong pre-season along with new recruits on the pitch and in the coaching team will propel them to a more consistent year when the Aviva Premiership gets going again. At the very least, it’s going to be another fascinating, exciting, and undoubtedly dramatic season, win or lose.

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