A try within the last play of the game by Elvis Seveali'i may have saved a Bath from the ignominy of relegation from the Zurich Premiership.

The former champions looked as if their fate was sealed when London Irish fly-half Barry Everitt dropped a dramatic goal in the 84th minute.

But back came Bath from the restart, winning a scrum from an Exiles knock-on as players quizzed referee Chris White as to exactly how much time was left on the clock.

Bath scrum-half Gareth Cooper had left the narrowest of gaps for Seveali'i to speed down the touchline and touch down with a flourish to earn an improbable but desperately-vital victory for the West Country side.

The four points earned take Bath off the bottom of the table with only two matches left to secure survival - away to Bristol on May 4 and then at home to fellow strugglers Newcastle six days later.

Bath brought back all their big guns to face Conor O'Shea's side, who are in trouble themselves despite having picked up a point from this game for finishing within seven points.

But England Grand Slam hero Mike Tindall, who passed a late fitness test to take his place in the backline, did not last the punishing pace and he will be one of several players struggling to patch themselves up in time for Sunday's Parker Pen Cup semi-final first leg at Saracens.

Everitt must wonder what more he could have done to earn London Irish victory at the Recreation Ground.

He kicked his side into a 6-0 lead before Bath winger Olly Barkley pulled back three points with a penalty in the 40th minute.

The home side had not really been in the game up to that point, pinned back in their own half by the visitors' superior tactical kicking.

Bath's try in the third minute of first half injury time came as a shock therefore, Kevin Maggs bursting through to touch down at the post and leave Barkley with an easy conversion.

Everitt's accurate boot ate into that half time lead and his fourth successful penalty put Irish 12-10 up on the hour.

Barkley came back with a 30-metre kick to edge Bath in front by a point 13 minutes later and then came the dramatic finale.