BATH RUGBY: Derby win will be the cherry on top for Dave (From Wiltshire Times)

BATH RUGBY: Derby win will be the cherry on top for Dave

1:00pm Friday 1st February 2013 in Sport By Owen Houlihan

THEIR opponents may be out of the running for an LV= Cup semi-final place, but Bath lock Dave Attwood knows there’s no chance of an easy ride from Gloucester in tomorrow’s final pool game (2pm).

With Bath hunting the win that may take them to the last four – depending on rivals Northampton’s result at Exeter – former Cherry & Whites man Attwood agrees the home side would like nothing more than to ruin their ambitions.

“I don’t think there is any such thing as a low-key game between the two clubs,’’ said the 25-year-old, who played a significant role in the forward effort that helped see off Exeter 16-6 last weekend.

“It means an awful lot to the supporters and a lot of the players. Particularly the first game we played up there this season, the new guys at the club very quickly realised how important it is, how loud it is up there and how desperate they are to win.

“Bath v Gloucester is Bath v Gloucester, whether it’s LV= Cup, Premiership or Heineken Cup. At the end of the day it’s a group of West Country blokes and another group of West Country blokes trying to batter each other.’’

Gloucester have largely enjoyed the upper hand in recent derby battles and Attwood added: “Certainly, that’s something that has been talked about. It’s a trait that we desperately need to break.

“Although it’s an LV= Cup game it’s a great momentum-shifter for us. It’s never an easy place to go to and win – I know that of all people – so it’s a case of getting your head screwed on right.

“This competition is the most straightforward route into the Heineken Cup. We want five points and we’re going to do what we can to get them.

“It’s now going to be a very difficult battle in the Premiership to work our way back up into the top tier again, so this could be really crucial for us.

“It could be an opportunity to flip the momentum of the season around and be in a position to make a charge towards the end of the season.’’