Barry relishing Bath-time

Warriors return to Gallagher Premiership absence on Saturday after a six-week absence, buoyed with confidence for the trip to The Rec to face Bath (kick-off 12.45pm).

Since a record-breaking 52-7 victory over Bristol Bears at Sixways in their last Premiership outing, Warriors won four consecutive matches in the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup and they secured a try bonus point from the defeat by Saracens in the latter competition on Sunday.

Warriors have yet to win in 12 visits to The Rec in the Premiership but lock Darren Barry says they will travel with a positive mind set.

“There were a few media interviews at the start of the season where boys mentioned us finishing in the top six. We are seventh at the moment so it’s still our aim to finish in the top six,” Barry said.

“I think there is no reason why, on the back of our performances both in the Premiership and in the cup games, that should not be achievable this season.

“It’s a bit different this season. I don’t feel like we are looking up the league like we have done in the past and concerning ourselves with relegation.

“We have just knuckled down, got on with our job, taken each game as it comes and pushed forward for the wins as opposed to just hoping we don’t get beaten by a big score. The confidence has grown over the course of the last few weeks.

“I’m sure that at the start of the season most teams would have looked at us and maybe Bristol as traditionally being the clubs who would be fighting it out at the bottom of the table.

“But Bristol got off to a good start. We were a bit slow at the beginning of the season but we knew that there was no need to panic. We weren’t getting beaten by large margins and we were getting bonus point losses.

“We stayed confident, kept to our plans and we have probably surprised a few teams. Certainly winning away at Leicester would have sent a few ripples through the league.”

Saturday’s match will see Bristolian Barry play against the club his father Derek – also a lock – represented 118 times between 1977 and 1982.

“My dad played for Bath in the late 1970s and early 1980s so that adds a little twist to the game,” Barry said.

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