LV Cup: Haag happy as Bath cruise into semis

Martin Haag, the Bath forwards' coach, was delighted to secure a home LV Cup semi-final against Leicester Tigers after a comprehensive 31-3 victory over Exeter yesterday. A first-half hat-trick from flying wing Tom Biggs helped Bath finish top of Pool One.

"It was exactly what we wanted to do," Haag said. "We wanted to qualify for the semi-final, the first two rounds put us in a good position and I think we followed that in a similar vain in the next two games. In terms of the performance, we will look to improve over the next four weeks in the Aviva Premiership.

"On the one hand we are delighted that we have reached the semi-finals, but that has to be put to one side as we head to Newcastle on Saturday. Bath and Leicester games are generally pretty good games, but now we have the added spice of a semi-final to boot."

Meanwhile, four tries from the wing Tom James helped Cardiff Blues pick up their first points of the cup in an entertaining 45-40 win against Harlequins at Cardiff City Stadium yesterday. But it was the faultless kicking of Ben Blair that proved the difference, with both sides crossing for six tries.