The 29 years of angst and agony are finally at an end. Bath are champions of England once again, winners of the Premiership final for the first time to snap their long drought. But boy, how they had to work for it, Leicester going hell for leather to threaten a shock – and so nearly pulling it off.
And they might well have done, too, if not for a most unfitting farewell from Dan Cole. In his final game before retirement, a stray shoulder from the veteran prop proved oh so costly for a Tigers team that he has also given blood, sweat and tears. His indiscretion, and the resultant penalty, left old king Cole laying down his crown from the sin bin and Leicester two points short. Bath are worthy winners over the course of the season, but not perhaps so obviously triumphant on the day.
