Bristol's Premiership play-off hopes were left hanging by a thread after Matt
Perry kicked Bath to a late West Country derby victory at the Recreation
Ground.
Full-back Perry booted 14 points - four penalties and a conversion of wing
Tom Voyce's 15th-minute try - as Bath retained second spot behind League
champions Leicester.
But Bristol, who have not won on Bath soil for 20 years, came desperately
close to ending that sorry sequence.
Their Argentine fly-half Felipe Contepomi bagged a first-half try and slotted
three penalties and a conversion, but he also became Bristol's villain of the
peace.
Contepomi misses three successive penalties during an 11-minute second-half
spell - all of them long-range attempts - and Perry's 70th-minute effort tipped
the scales in Bath's favour.
Bristol must now beat Northampton in their final Premiership fixture on
Easter Monday, but still require slip-ups from principal play-off rivals London
Irish and Sale.
Today's bonus point seemed scant reward for their efforts - especially up
front, where the Bristol pack dominated chiefly through outstanding displays
from young lock Alex Brown, together with flankers Craig Short and Adam Vander.
The game failed to ignite after a lively opening quarter when Voyce and
Contepomi exchanged tries after Bath skipper Ben Clarke and Contepomi had been
sin-binned.
Referee Nigel Yates brandished the yellow card following a seventh-minute
dust-up between the players, and it was Bath who made their one-man advantage
count.
Deep inside his own half, England star Iain Balshaw sprinted into space,
hooker Mark Regan and scrum-half Gareth Cooper took the move on, allowing Voyce
to scorch away for a score which Perry converted.
Bristol were on level terms just four minutes later though, when Bath fumbled
badly in defence.
Centre Sam Cox dropped fly-half Mike Catt's pass and Balshaw's attempted
fly-hack clearance went behind him, and Contepomi reacted quickest to grab a
touchdown which he also converted.
As far as tries were concerned, that was the end of proceedings as Perry and
Contepomi then dominated.
Two penalties apiece made it 13-13 at half-time, and they continued to cancel
each other out through one further strike each during the third quarter to make
it 16-16.
Bristol's forwards continued to enjoy supremacy, but with much of the action
centred around midfield, it was clear that Contepomi was their main
match-winning threat.
After kicking his first four shots at goal, he then missed a penalty attempt
on 57, 66 and 68 minutes - Bath breathing a huge sigh of relief as each one
drifted either wide or landed short.
With 10 minutes to go, Perry stepped up and rifled over the critical penalty
of a fast and furious occasion which lacked nothing in terms of commitment, but
proved low on skill.
Bristol battled bravely to rescue the game with time running out, but Bath
had enough in the tank to deny them and also prevent succumbing to a Premiership
double after losing at Memorial Stadium four months ago.
Bath visit rock-bottom Rotherham in their final League game on Easter
Saturday, but whether they clinch the runners-up spot now depends on Wasps.
If Wasps win their remaining three matches, and secure one bonus point, then
Bath will have to content themselves with third place. Bristol, meanwhile, can
only wait and hope to see how the play-offs take shape.
Teams:
Bath: Perry, Balshaw, Maggs, Cox, Voyce,
Catt, Cooper, Emms,Regan, Mallett, Gabey, Borthwick, G. Thomas, Clarke, Lyle.
Replacements: Barnes for Emms (50), Long for Regan (62),
N. Thomas for Clarke (59).
Not Used: Preston, Thirlby, Gardiner, Haag.
Sin Bin: Clarke (6).
Bristol: Best, Rees, Simone,
Mayer, S. Brown, Contepomi,
Pichot, Johnstone, Williams, Crompton, Archer, A. Brown, Short,Vander, Salter.
Replacements: Sheridan for Archer (74), Morgan for Salter (70).
Not Used: Nelson, Fullman, Blake, Marsden, Reeves.
Sin Bin: Contepomi (6).
Att: 8,200
Ref: Nigel Yates (RFU).
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