Zurich Premiership champions-elect Leicester ensured there would be no
fairytale start for Michael Foley in his first match as Bath coach following the
sudden departure of Jon Callard this week.
An interception try by centre Ollie Smith in the seventh minute of injury time
put something of a gloss on the scoreline but Foley, a World Cup-winner with
Australia, will have been all too aware that the Tigers were hardly
over-extended.
Their teamwork and commitment, not to mention the accurate boot of full back
Tim Stimpson, always ensured Bath were chasing the game from the moment Stimpson
kicked the first of five penalties in the sixth minute.
Leicester shrugged off the absence of suspended captain Martin Johnson as
everyone suspected they would.
Bath supporters, on the other hand, did not expect too much from a side who
have been battered by injuries and poor form for most of the season and now the
loss of a figure of Callard's stature.
Their cause was further hampered in the 25th minute when Danny Grewcock was
sent to the sin-bin for a misdemeanour which went unnoticed by almost everybody
but certainly not the touch-judge Ashley Ray. By that time Bath were trailing
6-0 and under considerable pressure.
Grewcock was still off the field when Johnson's stand in Louis Deacon finished
off an expansive move in the left corner. The conversion was the only kick that
Stimpson missed all afternoon.
Bath fly-half Olly Barkley made amends for some hesitant play at fly-half by
landing a 40-metre penalty in the 39th minute, but Bath wasted a chance to score
a try just before the half-time whistle when captain Dan Lyle was hauled down
just short of the line.
Barkley raised Bath hopes with two penalties immediately after the break but
once Stimpson had landed three more himself the result was never in doubt.
Bath were enjoying their best spell in the closing minutes until Smith latched
on to a loose pass and raced away for the second try, converted by Stimpson.
While Leicester romp away at the top of the table Bath find themselves stuck
in the bottom four of the Premiership with crucial games to come in the next
month at Saracens - currently one place below them - and also with Wasps and
Leeds.
Teams:
Bath: Balshaw, Danielli, Maggs, Tindall, Voyce, Barkley,
Dalzell, D. Barnes, Regan, Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock,
G. Thomas, N. Thomas, Lyle.
Replacements: Crockett for Maggs (40),
Scaysbrook for Regan (63), Emms for Mallett (54),
Long for N. Thomas (63).
Not Used: Chrystie, Thirlby, Gabey.
Pens: Barkley 3.
Sin Bin: Grewcock (26).
Leicester: Stimpson, Booth, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi, Healey, Hamilton, Rowntree, West, Garforth, Deacon, Kay, Moody, Kronfeld, Corry.
Replacements: Gelderbloom for Booth (72),
Ellis for Hamilton (57), Cockerill for West (66),
Back for Kronfeld (15).
Not Used: W. Johnson, Nebbett, Goode.
Tries: Deacon, Smith.
Cons: Stimpson.
Pens: Stimpson 5.
Att: 8,200
Ref: Steve Lander (RFU).
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