Dave Attwood: Bath motivated by Premiership play-off failure
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Bath lock Dave Attwood says missing out on the Premiership play-offs in the final game of the season will motivate them to win the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Saturday's 19-16 defeat at Harlequins allowed Conor O'Shea's side to leapfrog Bath and claim fourth spot.
The West Country club must now overcome Northampton Saints in the cup final in Cardiff on 23 May if they are to end their six-year wait for silverware.
"We've got time to get our heads round it," Attwood told BBC Points West.
"We don't want to shy away from how bad we feel now. It's important to drill it in because it will be a tremendous motivator.
"Great teams go through hard times. This is a great team and a particularly hard time.
"It's important to now get a good characterisation so that we can turn it into positive energy."
Bath spent all but one week in the top four of the Premiership this season but they dropped crucial points across the campaign against eventual semi-finalists Saracens, Leicester and Saints.
It was a vast improvement on last season's seventh-place finish, but coach Neal Hatley said after Saturday's game: "The boys are distraught.
"After being in the top four for 90% of the season, to dip out now, on the last day, is devastating.
"But we've got plenty to look forward to in two weeks' time and we're unbelievably proud of the effort the guys have put in."
