Looking to go one step beyond this time around

NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.

Only winning the Champions Cup in 1998 rivals it and Bath, one of only five clubs who have been permanent residents since the Premiership started in 1997, were on the attack in June’s Premiership final needing a try to defeat Northampton only to be thwarted.

Bath start the new campaign at home to the Saints on Friday night when their thoughts will not so much be on revenge but continuing from where they left off last season two years after finishing bottom of the table.

“Last year is last year,” said Bath’s attack coach Lee Blackett, who joined the club last season after Wasps folded. “I have seen too many times what happens when you get caught up in the previous season.

“We were close, but it took a lot of hard work. We need to remember that and work even harder if we want to go one step further.”

Sale were saying the same this time last year having lost to Saracens in the final, but they took a step back, finishing third rather than second, and had to travel to Bath in the play-off semi-final.

“Momentum is a big thing in sport and Northampton will be a great way to start the season,” said Blackett. “Not many teams struggle early on and then manage to find a way.