England international Iain Balshaw came off the substitutes' bench to win a punishing west country derby for Bath in front of a bumper crowd at Kingsholm.

But Gloucester will be kicking themselves all the way home as half-backs Byron Hayward and Andy Gomarsall contrived to miss eight shots at goal between them despite perfect playing conditions.

Bath looked to have done enough when they opened up an 11-6 lead early in the second half, but the Gloucester forwards dug deep and ensured this gripping contest went all the way to the wire.

Balshaw, well and truly on the comeback trail after undergoing groin surgery four months ago, struck seven minutes from time.

Bath fly-half Mike Catt, who was earlier agonisingly denied a magnificent solo try, kicked menacingly into the heart of Gloucester territory.

It proved too much for full-back Terry Fanolua, who fumbled the ball badly and an ever-alert Balshaw gratefully accepted his gift-wrapped chance.

Bath scrum-half Jon Preston then put his fourth successful penalty between the posts only for Gloucester to hit back deep into stoppage time when Hayward ghosted over from close range.

Gomarsall's conversion guaranteed a nerve-tingling closing two minutes but Bath had done enough to claim a significant success.

Tempers were predictably frayed throughout the contest, referee Brian Campsall having to use all his international experience to keep the lid on an explosive cocktail.

In the end only two players went to the sin-bin - Bath skipper Ben Clarke and Gloucester hooker Chris Fortey - following a 70th minute dust-up. But both Campsall and touch judge Jeff Barnard missed a far more serious incident.

Bath prop John Mallett, fortunate to avoid a yellow card for punching Gloucester captain Iain Jones in the first half, got tangled up with Gloucester substitute Serge Simon.

Both players traded blows, scrapping long after Campsall had blown his whistle, yet it was Clarke and Fortey who were ordered off.

Running rugby was at a premium as both packs slugged it out, although Bath looked far more the dangerous team when Catt proved able to shrug off his markers and spin possession wide.

Catt made the first significant contribution to proceedings after just 11 minutes, launching a scintillating break from 10 metres inside his own half and kicking the ball over Fanolua before desperate defence from new Gloucester signing Dave Lougheed denied Catt a sensational try.

Bath were in no mood to relinquish the attacking platform that Catt had created, though, and from the resulting scrum outstanding England full-back Matt Perry sent wing Rob Thirlby sprinting over.

Despite Hayward reducing the arrears with a 15th-minute penalty he missed four others and was sacked by Jones before the break as Gomarsall took over, finding the target after Preston had extended Bath's lead to 8-3.

Another Preston goal put Bath further ahead but Gomarsall was then on hand to complete an impressive Gloucester surge which had involved Fortey, lively prop Olivier Azam and centre Chris Yates.

Gomarsall had a simple task of finishing off from close range and Gloucester's goal-kicking nightmare showed no sign of coming to an end when he later missed a sitter after Preston had edged Bath ahead again at 14-11.

The inevitable rout of late substitutions arrived as players tired from their stamina sapping efforts.

But Balshaw is a proven match-winner when any opportunity arises and his determination ultimately proved the difference between two evenly-matched teams who were locked together at 14-14 entering the final 10 minutes.

Although Gloucester recorded a bonus point for their efforts it will be of little consolation to coach Philippe Saint-Andre and his players because they know that such alarming goal-kicking deficiencies cost them everything.

Bath, meanwhile, have now won three Premiership games in a row, keeping them handily placed among the early league pacesetters.

Teams:

Gloucester:

Tries: Gomarsall, Hayward.

Cons: Gomarsall.

Pens: Hayward, Gomarsall 2.

Gloucester: Fanolua, Lougheed, Ewens, Yates, Schisano, Hayward, Gomarsall, Azam, Fortey, Powles, Fidler, I. Jones, Boer, K. Jones, Paramore, Sanders.

Replacements: Simon for Azam (58), Sanchez for Powles (68), Cornwell for Fidler (47), Ojomoh for Boer (44), Hazell for K. Jones (47), Catling for Sanders (56).

Not Used: Sanders.

Sin Bin: Fortey (71).

Bath:

Tries: Thirlby, Balshaw.

Pens: Preston 4.

Bath: Perry, Thirlby, Maggs, Tindall, A. Adebayo, Catt,Preston, Barnes, Regan, Mallett, Haag, Borthwick, Gardiner, Clarke, N. Thomas.

Replacements: Balshaw for Thirlby (57), Guscott for Tindall (47), Lyle for N. Thomas (80).

Not Used: Cooper, Long, Horsman, G. Thomas.

Sin Bin: Clarke (71).

Att: 8,000

Ref: Brian Campsell (RFU).

Man-of-the-match: Jon Preston (Bath).