Leeds Tykes emerged from their mid-season slump in impressive fashion to
preserve a top three spot in the Zurich Premiership and complete a notable
double over a lacklustre Bath.
The Premiership's surprise package ended their six-match run without a win by
comprehensively outplaying their visitors to leave them in relegation trouble.
Bath suffered a pre-match blow with the withdrawal of full-back Ian Balshaw
with a pulled calf muscle and they could do little right against a
well-organised Leeds team inspired by the foraging of flankers Cameron Mather
and Dan Hyde.
Leeds were also indebted to the clever prompting of fly-half Gordon Ross and
the exciting play of winger Diego Albanese, whose darting runs helped set up the
position for half of his side's points.
The Yorkshiremen were rarely troubled and would have won even more comfortably
but for an off day by Braam Van Straaten, who missed three of his seven kicks at
goal.
Two penalties from the boot of the Springbok centre gave Leeds just the right
encouragement after Bath fly-half Olly Barkley had missed with an ambitious
long-range attempt to open the scoring after five minutes.
Barkley's next shot at goal came more than an hour later after the game had
slipped beyond them.
Leeds were good value for their 13-0 interval lead, even though there was some
doubt over their only touchdown, Tom Palmer's second try of the season which was
awarded on the nod of a touch judge.
The England lock finished off some enterprising play in which former Bath
hooker Mark Regan was prominent but did not appear to ground the ball over the
line.
But there was no doubt over their second try, with Hyde tearing through the
middle of a maul to cross unopposed on 47 minutes.
Bath had the edge in the set-piece play, with Steve Borthwick and Danny
Grewcock towering in the line-outs, but their decision-making left much to be
desired and their handling was woeful at times.
Centre Mike Tindall tried manfully to spark life into a lethargic back
division on his 100th competitive appearance but Bath clearly missed the
inventive Balshaw and a 68th-minute try from scrum-half Gareth Cooper, converted
by Barkley, was little more than consolation.
In addition to returning to winning ways, Leeds were also delighted to welcome
back England A international Scott Benton from his injury nightmare.
Benton had played less than 10 minutes rugby this season after breaking his
ankle on his comeback in October but he went on for the last quarter and quickly
settled into his old rhythm.
Teams:
Leeds: Scarborough, Stanley, Davies, van Straaten, Albanese,
Ross, Dickens, Shelley, Regan, Holt, C. Murphy, Palmer, Mather,
Hyde, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Wheatley, Rawlinson, Campbell, Popham, Benton,
Emmerson, Hall.
Tries: Palmer, Hyde.
Cons: van Straaten 2.
Pens: van Straaten 2.
Bath: Perry, Danielli, Maggs, Tindall, Voyce, Barkley,
Cooper,
Barnes, Humphries, Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock, G. Thomas,
Vander, N. Thomas.
Replacements: A. Williams, Long, Galasso, Crockett, Malone,
Scaysbrook, Beattie.
Tries: Cooper.
Cons: Barkley.
Att: 4,553
Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).
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