Bath left behind their miserable English league form to claim a home quarter-final place in the Heineken Cup against either Llanelli or Munster in two weeks' time.

The four-try victory over France's form team leaves Leinster a sizeable hurdle in Toulouse tomorrow (Sunday) if the Irish province are to displace Bath from the number one seeding in the next stage.

Leinster must match Bath's 100% record in the pool stages and also score three tries if they are to claim a home tie against eighth seeds Llanelli rather than face their Irish rivals from Munster.

Bath, who have been languishing in the lower reaches of the Zurich Premiership all season, began in almost frantic style in an effort to unsettle their French visitors. Eventually, however, they relied on the left boot of centre Oliver Barkley to ease into a 9-0 lead after half-an-hour with three penalties.

Biarritz showed their pedigree with some forceful driving up front and some exciting running outside the scrum but determined defence restricted them to two penalties from fly-half Julien Peyrelongue before Bath struck just before half-time.

Mike Catt slipped a tackle and found England team-mate Mike Tindall in support. So was number eight Nathan Thomas and when he was tackled just short of the line Barkley fired out a long pass for Kevin Maggs to score in the corner.

Barkley's conversion was true and gave Bath a 10-point cushion at the break.

Catt was again instrumental when Bath added a second try on 48 minutes setting up a ruck from which Mark Gabey and Maggs made space for Tindall to dive in at the corner for an unconverted try.

There was a momentary lapse when left-wing Philippe Bidabe grabbed a try for Biarritz on 57 minutes but Bath's response was instantaneous.

Replacement Stuart Legg dropped a pass from a French colleague and Tindall, snatching up the loose ball, raced 40 metres to score in the corner.

Italian referee Julio de Santis yellow-carded first Maggs and then Marc Lievremont for technical offences with 15 minutes to go but it was Bath who took advantage when full-back Matt Perry picked a good angle to score another try, which again went unconverted.

However, it mattered little to Bath's supporters in an 8,000 crowd as they began to dream of the prospect of repeating their Heineken cup triumph of four years ago.

Teams:

Bath: Perry, Thirlby, Barkley, Tindall, Maggs, Catt, Williams, D. Barnes, Long, Emms, Borthwick, Grewcock, G. Thomas, Gabey, N. Thomas.

Replacements: Voyce for Tindall (76), Cooper for Williams (67), Regan for Long (58), Dorsey for Emms (76), Lyle for Gabey (54).

Not Used: Hopcroft, Crockett.

Sin Bin: Maggs (65).

Tries: Maggs, Tindall 2, Perry.

Cons: Barkley.

Pens: Barkley 3.

Biarritz: Brusque, Bernat-Salles, Cassin, Bousses, Bidabe, Peyrelongue, Morlaes, Menieu, Gonzales, Fitzgerald, Versailles, Roumat, M. Lievremont, Chouchan, T. Lievremont.

Replacements: Legg for Bousses (53), Mazas for Peyrelongue (84), Bonnet for Morlaes (50), Dabadie for Gonzales (70), Irazoqui for Fitzgerald (70), Matiu for Roumat (50), Milheres for T. Lievremont (68).

Tries: Bidabe.

Cons: Peyrelongue.

Pens: Peyrelongue 2.

Sin Bin: M. Lievremont (67).

Att: 7,907

Ref: Giulio di Santis (Italy).