World Cup-winner Mike Catt returned to action for the first time since
November as Bath opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Zurich
Premiership.
After months of hamstring problems it was touch and go up to kick-off whether
Catt would take his place at fly-half.
But, after a patchy first half, he settled into his rhythm and showed all the
usual touches as Bath came from behind to take the points.
Just as influential though was full-back Chris Malone who kicked five
penalties out of five and also converted Zak Feaunati's 63rd-minute try.
Leeds did enough to deserve perhaps a bonus point but found themselves under
increasing pressure against the bitter wind as the game wore on.
Bath, without 12 front-line players absent either through injury or
international call-ups, took time to settle although Malone gave them the lead on
10 minutes with a well-struck penalty from 38 metres.
Their injury problems increased when loose head prop David Flatman went off
with a hip injury on 23 minutes and Leeds capitalised when flanker Dan Hyde rode
a couple of tackles to score shortly afterwards.
Fly-half Gordon Ross, who had a fine game throughout, converted from wide out
and got his three-quarter line moving smartly at every opportunity.
Although Malone kicked two more penalties later in the first half to put Bath
back in front at 9-7, Ross had the perfect answer with a drop goal in the
seventh minute of injury-time to send Leeds in with a one-point advantage.
The Scottish fly-half added a penalty immediately after the restart but that
was their last scoring effort, although Ross hit the post with a penalty attempt
on 66 minutes.
By that time however, Bath had taken control, using the wind intelligently to
set their forwards up in the danger area.
Leeds lost flanker Matt Salter to the sin bin on 53 minutes and, just before
he returned, Feaunati was driven over by the posts for a try converted by Malone
who clinched the victory with his fifth penalty on 71 minutes.
The sides meet again next week up at Headingley with a place in the
semi-finals of the Powergen Cup at stake.
Teams:
Bath: Malone, Human, A. Higgins, Davey, Crockett, Catt, Wood,
Flatman, Humphreys, Bell, Hudson, Fidler, Beattie, Lipman,
Fea'unati.
Replacements: Mears for Humphreys (62), Stevens for Bell (49),
Barnes for Lipman (23).
Not Used: Blake, Mbu, Scaysbrook, Gray.
Tries: Fea'unati.
Cons: Malone.
Pens: Malone 5.
Leeds: Cardey, Scarbrough, Davies, Snyman, Christophers, Ross,
Dickens, Holt, Rawlinson, Powell, Murphy, Palmer, Salter, Hyde,
Rigney.
Replacements: Hodge for Ross (75), Cusack for Holt (64),
Hooper for Murphy (64), Morgan for Hyde (67).
Not Used: Shelley, Walker, Walsh.
Tries: Hyde.
Cons: Ross.
Pens: Ross.
Drop Goals: Ross.
Att: 9,818
Ref: David Rose (RFU).
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