Welford Road's biggest ever league attendance - 16,811 - saw Leicester record
their 50th successive Premiership home win, dating back to May 1998.
But Bath scored two late tries and looked close to securing victory at times.
Leicester made six changes, including the return of Austin Healey from a groin
strain at fly-half, from the side that lost 25-20 to Bristol Shoguns at the
Memorial Stadium last Sunday.
Bath, going into the game with just one won and two draws to their credit from
this campaign, made three changes from the side that drew at home Gloucester
last time out, including the return of Mike Catt at fly-half.
The visitors dominated the early stages and took the lead after five minutes
through a 25-metre penalty, just to the right of the posts, from full-back Olly
Barclay.
Tigers had an opportunity to level the scores 10 minutes later but full-back
Tim Stimpson pulled his 35-metre penalty attempt wide.
Barclay increased Bath's lead with a 30-metre penalty from close to the right
touchline. Tigers mounted a excellent run down their left through wing Freddie
Tuilagi but when they threw the ball across field two Leicester players ran into
each and Bath cleared their line.
Leicester wasted another opportunity on the half-hour when they were awarded a
free-kick when Bath hooker Jonathan Humphreys took too long with his line-out
throw close to his own line.
Tigers opted to take the scrum and scrum-half Tom Tierney picked up from the
base to race for the line only to be called back. From the second scrum Tierney
off-loaded the ball to number eight Martin Corry but from the ruck Bath were
again able to clear their line.
Healey attempted a long-range drop goal before Tuilagi mounted another attack
down the left only to be tackled just short of the line by wing Tom Voyce and
centre Mike Tindall.
Minutes before the half-time whistle Stimpson missed a second 35-metre penalty
from in front of the posts.
But on the stroke of half-time Healey chipped the ball to the left corner,
Neil Back tapped it down to Corry who scored the first try of the afternoon but
Stimpson's conversion attempt from out wide was well wide of the right upright
as Bath led 6-5 at the interval.
Leicester took the lead for the first time in the game early in the second
half as Stimpson landed a penalty from five metres inside his own half and close
to the left touchline.
The home side then camped on the Bath line first with Healey held up over the
line, then Tierney spilling the ball five metres from the line, then warned for
illegal use of the boot before the Tigers forwards broke loose for hooker Dorian
West to touch down and Stimpson to convert.
Bath were reduced to 14 men when Catt was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes
for a straight-arm tackle on Corry.
Leicester capitalised on the extra man and Back was driven over the line for
the Tigers third try. Stimpson added the extra two points.
Slack Leicester defence allowed Bath to score two tries in the closing
minutes. Ireland international centre Kevin Maggs scored the first and Tindall
the second, both converted by Barclay.
Healey and replacement James Scayesbrook were both sent to the sin-bin in the
final minute of the game by referee Dave Pearson as Leicester held out for
victory.
Leicester:
Tries: Corry, West, Back.
Cons: Stimpson 2.
Pens: Stimpson.
Leicester: Stimpson, Booth, Lloyd, Kafer, Tuilagi, Healey,
Tierney, Rowntree, West, Tournaire, M. Johnson, Deacon, Moody,
Back, Corry.
Not Used: Chuter, Kay, Garforth, W. Johnson, Gelderbloom,
J. Hamilton, Kronfeld.
Bath: Tries: Maggs, Tindall.
Cons: Barkley 2.
Pens: Barkley 2.
Bath: Barkley, Danielli,
Maggs, Tindall, Voyce, Catt, Cooper,
Barnes, Humphries, Galasso, Beattie, Grewcock, G. Thomas, Lyle,
N. Thomas.
Not Used: Blake, Mears, Mallett, Malone, Crockett, Scaysbrook,
Lloyd.
Sin Bin: Catt (65).
Att: 16,811
Ref: D Pearson (RFU).
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