Rugby Union: Sun for Guscott as Bath sweat

THE PLAYING is over, now the waiting begins. Bath's ultimately comprehensive demolition of London Scottish, who look as if they are going into deeper exile than ever before as the takeover sharks circle, means the West Country club's European fate rests with Newcastle.

The beaten cup finalists travel to Watford on Thursday knowing they have to beat Saracens by a margin of at least 30 points in order to steal the last place from the 1997 winners of the tournament.

The worry of course is that at the end of a gruelling season sides are played out. Jeremy Guscott, who scored four of Bath's 12 ties and set up a further four, said: "We have come back into European contention, but now we have to rely on other teams. It's a bit uncomfortable. Let's hope for a competitive game between Saracens and Newcastle. Now the game is professional you expect a good performance by both teams."

There will be no nailbiting for the England centre, however. Guscott will be on holiday in Dubai. "I'll be four hours ahead of whatever is happening, so I will be coming home to good or bad news. I won't be using my mobile phone to find out."

Guscott was pleased at the pride shown by the Bath players, who did not lose their nerve when Scottish fought back, their solitary try in the second half dictating that Bath, who needed a margin of at least 36 points in order to give themselves a chance of Europe, were left with a huge amount of work to do in the final quarter. A five-try blitz in those final 20 minutes - the last two to Guscott - ensured that Newcastle have been left with a difficult task and it will be no mean feat if they manage to beat Saracens by the requisite margin.

For Scottish there is a sad irony to their season in which the coaching staff, headed by John Steele, and the players have done the business in avoiding relegation and the play-offs. They still face the prospect of going out of professional existence after more than 120 years, with the possibility of a merger with either Bristol, Richmond and any number of others if the rumours are to be believed.

"It is upsetting for the players and there is a little anger," Simon Holmes, the Exiles captain, said. "I suppose people will say it is simply harsh commercial reality, but it does not seem to have a lot to do with sport.

"It is a sad day. Sad for the guys who have been involved, like myself since our days in the Second Division and pulled us into the First, and then for everyone else who, since the start of the season when we were seen as relegation candidates, have succeeded in keeping us up. We have achieved our objective on the field."

For a while they almost managed to keep things within the bounds of reason at The Recreation Ground, despite the handicap of being down to 14 men after lock Mick Watson was sent off after 42 seconds for landing a head butt on his opposite number, Martin Haag.

Watson's physical presence was sorely missed and inevitably the Exiles folded. Whether they disappear altogether remains to be seen.

Bath: Tries Regan, Guscott 4, Perry 2, Catt 2, Cooper, Hilton, Balshaw. Conversions Catt 8. London Scottish: Try Holmes. Conversion McAusland. Penalties De Beer 2.

Bath: M Perry; I Balshaw, K Maggs, J Guscott (capt), A Adebayo (P de Glanville, 65); M Catt, G Cooper (A Nicol, 65); D Hilton (K Yates, 56), M Regan (A Long, 56), V Ubogu, M Haag, S Borthwick, R Earnshaw, B Sturnham, N Thomas.

London Scottish: I McAusland; K Milligan, J Bonney, R Eriksson, J Philip (R Davies, 27); J de Beer, C Mulraine (D Millard, h-t); P Johnstone (C Johnston, 34), D Cummins (D Rudham, 61), P Burnell, E Jones (G Manson- Bishop, 61), M Watson, S Fenn, R Hunter, S Holmes (capt; T Davies, 61).

Referee: E Morrison (Bristol).