Bath edges Leicester in Premiership thriller
MATCH REPORT: Bath recorded their second win of the season in as many matches in the Premiership with a hard-fought 20-15 away win over Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
The west country side started their season with some measure of revenge for last seasons Premiership Final loss to Northampton Saints with a 38-16 victory over the Saints last week.
Despite being less convincing at Welford Road, they managed to do enough to bag the result – although they only managed to do so in the 73rd minute.
Bath crossed the line on three occasions with tries to Will Muir, Tom de Glanville and Guy Pepper all getting their names on the scoresheet.
Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell slotted one conversion and England’s Ben Spencer adding a penalty.
Scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet and Prop Dan Cole scored tries for Leicester with Jamie Shillcock landing one conversion and a penalty.
The match was in the balance until late on, but Pepper finished off a series of forward drives and scored a try on the back of a 50/22 kick out of defence.
Russel slotted the conversion but subsequently missed a penalty before Spencer stepped up for a successful attempt at goal to give Bath more breathing space.
With time running out, Leicester managed to secure a losing bonus-point when veteran England prop Dan Cole forced his way over the line from close range.
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Scorers:
For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Van Poortvliet, Cole
Con: Shillcock
Pen: Shillcock
For Bath:
Tries: Muir, De Glanville, Pepper
Con: Russel
Pen: Spencer
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Ollie Hassel-Collins, 10 Jamie Shillcock, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 George Martin, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Charlie Clare, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 17 James Cronin, 18, Dan Cole, 19 Côme Joussain, 20 Kyle Hatherell, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Mike Brown.
Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Ross Molony, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela , 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee.
