THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES ACROSS BATH STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX SIGN UP Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

With three tries already in the bag, Matt Banahan charged towards the left corner in the final minute against London Itish with one goal in his mind... his 100th try for Bath Rugby.

The sellout Rec crowd roared as he shrugged off a tackle from Ben Loader and continued on his mission.

He went to ground after a tackle from Tom Fowlie and Alex Lewington but wasn't held. The volume went up another notch as he got back up and that white line became ever closer.

Eventually, it took a triple tackle from the Exiles for the club's longest-serving player to be brought down less than a metre short. Then, all of a sudden his tattooed left arm shot out and put the ball down on the line.

The crowd went berserk thinking what was already a fairytale had got even better, but it wasn't to be.

After referee Matt Carley had consulted with his touch judge the try was ruled out for a double movement and a penalty went Irish's way.

(Image: Ian Johnson/Taking Pictures (Sport) Ltd)

So close to that magical century. Or was it? Since the 63-19 victory there has been a recount.

Michael Whatmore, a statistician for BT Sport, and Stuart Farmer - the Premiership Rugby oracle - have added up their tallies and revealed Banahan had already scored his 100th Bath try during the game - the charge down the blindside off the back of a 63rd minute maul, pictured above.

According to the statisticians Banahan's final total for Bath was 62 Premiership tries, 28 in Europe and ten in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The club's records show 99 tries.

A century of tries was a target Banahan had in his mind from the moment his departure to Gloucester this summer was confirmed.

A flurry of scores early in 2018 put him within range and he thought he needed four more from his final four league games to achieve it.

A mini drought meant he had it all to do against his former club Irish. But with the crowd cheering him on and plenty of help from his generous team-mates - they didn't mind him appearing at the back of mauls - he was able to make it to the ton, even if he didn't know it at the time.

In a message to the Bath fans after his 264th and final game for the club, Banahan said: "Statistics and results aside, I just want to be remembered as someone who gave their all whenever I stepped on the field.

(Image: Ian Johnson/Taking Pictures (Sport) Ltd)

"I’m not flash and I’ve not got the X-Factor. I just try and do what my dad told me, and that was to do my basics as best as I can.

"If you give 110% and execute your basics, you’ll be out there playing. I’ve always played with a smile, win, lose or draw because I’m very fortunate to do what I do and play for this great club."