Bath win the European Challenge Cup '08

Bath ended a ten year trophy drought as they lifted the European Challenge Cup at the third attempt at a soggy Kingsholm on Sunday. It was a fitting farewell for the departing Steve Borthwick and Olly Barkley.

England captain Borthwick ended a decade of service to the club by guiding them to their first bit of silverware since 1998 and eradicating the misery of two losing tournament finals.

Any season is judged by what happens at the end of it and to lift this trophy is just fantastic, said Borthwick.

Its vey emotional as I have a great 10 years with Bath and it is just brilliant for these players to get this reward.

Barkley, who joins Gloucester next season, kept Bath ahead by landing a drop-goal, two penalties and a conversion.

“Today wasn’t about rugby; it was about leaving a group of people I’ll miss dearly people I love,” said the England centre, who will spend rather more time at Kingsholm next season on account of his decision to join Gloucester. Quite why he is leaving is anyone’s guess, but one thing at Bath is for certain, he will be missed.