Bath overwhelm Lyon to win Challenge Cup

CARDIFF :Bath completed the second stage of what they hope will be a dream treble when they proved too good in all areas for Lyon and romped to a 37-12 triumph in the European Challenge Cup final at the Principality Stadium on Friday.

Bath, who won the Premiership Cup this season and who will go into a home semi-final as the clear leaders of the English Premiership, were the better team throughout, but enjoyed the rub of the green in a controversial first half.

Having ridden their luck when they were down to 13 men, however, the took command of the match.

"We speak a lot about working hard for each other and the yellow card period is something we pride ourselves on," man of the match scrumhalf Ben Spencer, who scored the fourth and final try, told Premier Sports.

"To not concede in that yellow card period I thought was outstanding. We spoke before the game about not playing the occasion, just playing the game.

"I'm just so proud to be able to give the fans what they deserve after so many years of hurt."

Bath, the former powerhouse of English rugby, had not won a trophy since their Challenge Cup triumph in 2008 but ended the drought with this season's Premiership Cup, though that is something of a development competition.

Friday was a serious trophy, however, against a Lyon side who won it three years ago.

The French team blasted out of the blocks to create an overlap on the right wing and Ethan Dumortier dived over to score after three minutes.

PROLIFIC HOOKER

Bath took a while to settle but, after a Finn Russell penalty, built up forward momentum that ended with prolific hooker Tom Dunn forcing his way over from close range.

Spencer then took centre stage, following up a brilliant 50-20 kick with a zipped, miss-pass out to Max