Vital win for Bath at Headingley

Five penalties from flyhalf Nicky Little helped Bath edge out Leeds 20-15 in the Premiership’s basement-battle on Saturday afternoon at Headingley.

Last years semi-finalist have had a difficult season so far and, at the start of the match, were just three points ahead of Andy Key and Neil Back’s men.

The home side got off to a good start thanks to two early penalties from impressive young flyhalf Joe Ford after just 12 minutes.

Little kept Bath in touch with two penalties whie Ford’s third, on 18 minutes, meant they led 9-6 with 25 minutes gone.

Just a couple minutes later though Bath’s right wing Michael Stevenson struck a big blow for the visitors, scoring the only try of the match to put Steve Meehan’s men 11-9 ahead.

Little’s third penalty extended Bath’s lead but the teams went into the break separated by just two points after Ford slotted his fourth successful kick of the afternoon.

Leeds came out after the break determined not to suffer another setback at home but unfortunately a 46th minute penalty was all they would have to show for their efforts in the second period.

Defensively though they remained committed and, having edged in front thanks to Ford’s fifth successful kick, only went behind again with 17 minutes left in the game. Little was once again the point provider for Bath.

The Fijian playmaker added penalties in both the 63rd and 78th minutes of the game, handing Meehan’s men an unconvincing, but hugely important, victory over the Premiership’s bottom club.

The Scorers

For Leeds

Pen: Ford 5

For Bath

Try: Stevenson
Pen: Little 5

The Teams

Leeds Carnegie: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 Scott Armstrong, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Henry Paul, 11 Lee Blackett, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Alfie Tooala, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Kearnan Myall, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Erik Lund, 3 Juan Gomez, 2 Rob Rawlinson, 1 Mike Macdonald
Replacements: 16 Phil Nilsen, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Tommy McGee, 19 Rhys Oakley, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Jason Strange, 23 Henry Faafili

Bath: 15 Joe Maddock, 14 Michael Stephenson, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Michael Claassens (captain), 8 Luke Watson, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Stuart Hooper, 3 David Wilson, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 David Barnes, 18 Duncan Bell, 19 Peter Short, 20 Ben Skirving, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Tom Cheeseman

Referee: Dave Pearson