Olly Barkley ended Gloucester's 100% Zurich Premiership record by kicking an injury-time penalty to tie a thrilling derby at the Recreation Ground.

Gloucester, who remain unbeaten and top of the league after five games, scored the only tries of a fast and furious contest through flanker James Forrester and full-back Henry Paul.

But Bath full-back Barkley's immaculate performance - he landed six penalties from six attempts- ensured that Bath gained a share of the points.

The home side fought back superbly from 21-12 adrift midway through the second period, and when Gloucester's debutant prop Rodrigo Roncero strayed offside two minutes into stoppage time, Barkley did the rest.

It was a deserved result for Bath, who plugged manfully away despite being without international centres Mike Catt and Kevin Maggs.

Gloucester had their moments, and they looked to have done enough when former Bath player Paul -who watched from the stands by his brother Robbie - finished off a sweeping move 17 minutes from time.

But Gloucester, displaying discipline will have annoyed their rugby director Nigel Melville, kept conceding penalties, and Barkley kicked three during the closing 15 minutes.

Gloucester are still without a league win on Bath soil, a remarkable sequence stretching back 15 years, but it is doubtful that they will ever get a better opportunity than this.

Bath, who have scored just two tries in five Premiership games, never seriously looked like breaching Gloucester's defence despite some powerful running from centres Mike Tindall and Alex Crockett, but Barkley's six penalties and an early Chris Malone drop-goal guaranteed a share of the spoils.

While Barkley could not, Gloucester fly-half Ludovic Mercier experienced a rare off-day.

He missed three kicks of goal, and saw those duties handed to Paul long before the end.

Early exchanges were predictably fast and furious, and after Mercier had booted Gloucester into an early 6-3 lead, the visitors collected their opening try.

Scrum half Andy Gomarsall created it, smashing through Bath prop Simon Emms weak tackle, and the unmarked Forrest finished off in style.

Barkley though, added two penalties before the break, and Gloucester knew that they had a game on their hands, leading just 11-9 at the interval.

Paul extended Gloucester's advantage with a 56th minute penalty, and even though Barkley brought Bath back to just two points adrift, incessant Gloucester pressure had to take its toll.

Bath put in tackle after tackle, but they could nothing to keep Gloucester out when possessions was worked wide and James Simpson-Daniel delivered the scoring pass to Paul for a try that he converted from the touchline.

Bath could well have folded at this stage, but they delighted their supporters among a capacity 8,200 crowd by establishing the field positions from which Barkley ultimately hauled them level.

Bath will at least travel to champions Leicester in good heart next Saturday, while Saracens-Gloucester's opponents at Kingsholme- must expect something of a backlash, even though Melville's men remain unbeaten.

Bath:

Pens: Barkley 6.

Drop Goals: Malone.

Bath: Barkley, Danielli, Crockett, Tindall, Voyce, Malone, Cooper, Emms, Humphries, Galasso, Beattie, Grewcock, G. Thomas, Lyle, N. Thomas.

Not Used: Blake, Mears, Barnes, Thirlby, Scaysbrook, Lloyd, Mallett.

Gloucester:

Tries: Forrester, Paul.

Cons: Paul.

Pens: Mercier 2, Paul.

Gloucester: Paul, Garvey, Fanolua, Todd, Simpson-Daniel, Mercier, Gomarsall, Roncero, Fortey, Vickery, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, Forrester, Paramore.

Not Used: Stuart-Smith, Beim, Delport, Deacon, Azam, Buxton, Pearce.

Att: 8,200

Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).