Relegation-haunted Bath suffered their fourth successive Zurich Premiership
defeat as Barry Everitt booted them into submission at the Madejski Stadium.
Fly-half Everitt kicked 26 points - eight penalties and a conversion of
full-back Michael Horak's try - from nine attempts, to deny Bath a first league
away win this season.
And Everitt's exploits eclipsed those of his opposite number Iain Balshaw, who
made a solid first start in the Bath number 10 jersey.
Balshaw dropped two huge first-half goals and made a scintillating 40-metre
break, yet he could not inspire a brave, if limited, Bath outfit, for whom
centre Olly Barkley also slotted three penalties.
The 1998 European kings and six-times English champions now have just four
league games left, and they remain hovering perilously close to the trap-door,
tied on 28 points with Leeds - their opponents this weekend - and bottom club
Harlequins.
Irish, meanwhile, are now just one point behind second-placed Gloucester, and
Heineken Cup qualification for next season looks certain.
Danny Grewcock and Mike Tindall both returned to Bath's line-up following
their Lloyds TSB Six Nations exploits with England in Italy three days ago, but
the main selection talking point surrounded the fly-half position.
With Mike Catt recovering from shoulder surgery, Bath coach Michael Foley
turned to former England full-back Balshaw as his number 10 and moved England
Under-21 playmaker Barkley into midfield alongside Tindall.
Bath found themselves under relentless early pressure, with Irish releasing
ball-carrying forwards Chris Sheasby and Declan Danaher into the heart of
opposing territory.
And Bath required an eighth-minute penalty, awarded in their favour following
a punch-up between Grewcock and Irish lock Steve Williams, to relieve escalating
danger.
Irish stormed back into the Bath 22 though, and it took a brilliant Rob
Thirlby tackle to deny Irish wing Paul Sackey a try after Everitt's pass split
the visiting defence wide open.
Everitt opened the scoring through a short-range penalty on 13 minutes, but
Barkley levelled it up with a mighty 50-metre strike six minutes later after
Everitt had missed from similar range.
Irish still looked comfortably the more dangerous team, and Everitt's second
penalty came after Danaher and Williams had made considerable yardage, combining
pace, power and some deft handling skills.
Balshaw then stunned the home crowd with a 45-metre drop-goal to keep Bath in
contention, yet Irish finally made pressure count when the impressive Sackey
pulled defenders wide and his cleverly-placed kick saw Horak gather and score.
Everitt converted before another Barkley penalty and superb Balshaw drop-goal
slashed Irish's advantage to 13-12 after Foley sent on Borthwick instead of Mark
Gabey, with Bath's line-out malfunctioning.
Everitt though came up trumps once again, and two further penalties secured a
seven-point lead at the interval.
Foley made another change for the second period, replacing skipper Dan Lyle
with Nathan Thomas, and Balshaw gave Bath momentum through a stunning break that
required all of Irish player-coach Brendan Venter's defensive excellence to
thwart.
The prolific Everitt made it six out of six by landing a 50-metre penalty,
ruthlessly punishing another Bath indiscretion, before completing a magnificent
seven on 54 minutes and taking Irish further away at 25-12 ahead.
Bath's hopes of a bonus point disappeared during the closing 10 minutes.
Barkley completed a penalty hat-trick, but two further Everitt goals ensured
that Irish comfortably avenged their 19-11 Premiership defeat at Bath last
November.
Teams:
London Irish: Horak, Sackey,
Appleford, Venter, Bishop,
Everitt, Martens, Worsley, Drotske, Hardwick, Strudwick,
Williams, Gustard, Danaher, Sheasby.
Replacements: Brown for Horak (80), Edwards for Martens (50),
Hatley for Worsley (60), Kirke for Drotske (46),
Halford for Hardwick (46), Halvey for Gustard (61).
Not Used: Delaney.
Tries: Horak.
Cons: Everitt.
Pens: Everitt 8.
Bath: Thirlby, Voyce, Tindall, Barkley, Danielli, Balshaw,
Dalzell, Emms, Long, Mallett, Gabey, Grewcock, G. Thomas,
Scaysbrook, Lyle.
Replacements: Cooper for Dalzell (53), Regan for Long (52),
D. Barnes for Mallett (48), Borthwick for Gabey (33),
N. Thomas for Lyle (42).
Not Used: Crockett, Bellinger.
Pens: Barkley 3.
Drop Goals: Balshaw 2.
Att: 6,055
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
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