Bath's 16th Zurich Premiership victory of the season has all but secured
Heineken Cup qualification for the League leaders.
But they had stand in fly-half Chris Malone to thank for an 83rd-minute
drop-goal which snatched the point from the Irish.
The visitors, who had taken the lead only a minute or so before with a shock
try from right-wing Paul Sackey, will feel bitterly disappointed, especially
after losing at home by a point against Bath only last Sunday.
Bath, European champions in 1998, but absent from the competition for the last
two seasons, are now, barring a mathematical quirk, looking forward to a return
to Europe next season.
Only Gloucester can deprive the leaders of a top-three place but that would
require Bath to lose all their remaining four games without picking up a losing
bonus point and for Gloucester to collect maximum points.
Bath have survived the loss of their international players throughout the RBS
6 Nations Championship, underlining the depth of talent and spirit within the
club this season.
And they still have 31-cap Springbok centre Robbie Fleck to return to action -
he was on the bench against the Irish, appearing in the matchday squad for the
first time since breaking his leg at Gloucester in November.
Irish, forced into five changes from last Sunday's line-up, made a dramatic
start when centre Nils Mordt claimed a try after just three minutes as Bath
reacted slowly to a quick Irish throw.
Fly-half Barry Everitt kicked the conversion and went on to land three
penalties and to keep Bath on the back foot with his tactical kicking.
It was 18 minutes before Bath put points on the board when right-wing Alex
Crockett latched onto a chip ahead by full-back Paul Sampson and forced his way
over the line.
Malone's conversion hit the post but he edged Bath into an 8-7 lead 20 minutes
later and although Everitt pulled back three points in injury-time there was
still time before the turnaround for Malone to chip over his second penalty.
The kicking duel continued after the break with a penalty apiece and Malone
dropped his first goal on the hour to give Bath a vital four-point advantage.
That was stretched to seven points with his fourth penalty but Bath seemed to
have been caught cold when first Everitt landed his third penalty and then
Sackey struck with his try.
Fortunately for Bath, Malone had the last word with a drop-goal from 35 metres
after Bath had won the restart kick.
Teams
Bath: Sampson, Crockett, A. Higgins, Davey, Human, Malone,
Wood, Flatman, Humphreys, Bell, Fidler, Hudson, Beattie,
Lipman, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Barnes for Flatman (69),
Mears for Humphreys (36), Stevens for Bell (49),
Scaysbrook for Lipman (75).
Not Used: Martens, Fleck, Gray.
Tries: Crockett.
Pens: Malone 4.
Drop Goals: Malone 2.
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Greenstock, Mordt, Bishop,
Everitt, Edwards, Hatley, Flavin, Hardwick, Strudwick, Casey,
Danaher, Dawson, Murphy.
Replacements: Kennedy for Edwards (69),
Wheatley for Hatley (41), Barrett for Casey (69),
Sheasby for Murphy (64).
Not Used: Paice, Mapletoft, Gustard.
Tries: Mordt, Sackey.
Cons: Everitt.
Pens: Everitt 3.
Att: 9,980
Ref: D Pearson (RFU).
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