Bath belatedly kick-started their Zurich Premiership season with a hard-fought
victory at Sixways.
England fly-half Olly Barkley kicked 16 points for the West Country side who
finally sparked their season into life following two defeats.
Worcester scored their first ever Premiership try at Sixways but handling
errors at vital moments cost them dear as they suffered their third consecutive
defeat following their promotion.
The Warriors got off to the worst possible start when fly-half James Brown's
floated pass was intercepted by Brendon Daniel and the winger sprinted 50 metres
to the line to give Bath a first minute lead.
Barkley added the conversion to give his side a boost following their poor
start which saw them arrive at Sixways anchored to the bottom of the table.
Worcester's Tommy Hayes pegged them back with a sixth-minute penalty but
Barkley's grip on proceedings was beginning to grow and his drop goal extended
Bath's advantage.
The National One champions competed well in the set piece but their problem
came in the loose when trying to stretch play. Time after time, the Premiership
newcomers spilt ball as they looked to break the gain line with Hayes guilty
twice of knocking on in good positions.
Bath took full advantage with Barkley's cute grubber kick catching Worcester
cold and Mike Tindall crashed over the line for a well-worked try midway through
the half. It was a reminder of the quality within the Bath ranks and Barkley's
conversion stretched the lead to 17-3.
Worcester huffed and puffed but rarely did they look remotely like blowing the
Bath house down. Instead, they had to be satisfied with a further three Hayes
penalties while Barkley's three pointer gave the visitors a satisfying 20-12
lead at the break.
The only blot on their copybook came on the stroke of half time with Tindall
taking a yellow card from referee Dave Pearson. That gave the Warriors some hope
but Barkley's penalty, just three minutes into the second half, swiftly dented
it.
Worcester's 6,348 crowd were on their feet soon after, however, as scrum-half
Neil Cole's chip was gobbled up by Brown and he made the Sixways boys feel good
as he put in wing Thomas Lombard for the Warriors' first ever home Premiership
try. Hayes improved the score but Barkley soon hit back with a penalty and
Tindall's return from the sin bin gave the former European champions another
boost.
Worcester, though, were beginning to sniff a shock victory and their
possession began to see them dictate and even dominate Bath's impregnable
lineout partnership of Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock.
Indeed, Hayes' fifth penalty, with 15 minutes left, put Worcester within
touching distance but gritty Bath held out for a priceless victory.
Teams:
Worcester: Delport, O'Leary, Hayes, Trueman, Lombard, Brown,
Cole, Windo, Daly, Fortey, Collier, Gillies, Greeff, Sanderson,
MacLeod-Henderson.
Replacements: Hinshelwood for Trueman (25),
Roke for Brown (58), Stuart-Smith for Cole (74),
van Niekerk for Daly (68), Sparks for Fortey (66),
Hickey for MacLeod-Henderson (56).
Not Used: Murphy.
Tries: Lombard.
Cons: Hayes.
Pens: Hayes 5.
Bath: Maddock, Crockett, Fleck, Tindall, Daniel, Barkley, Wood,
Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman,
Fea'unati.
Replacements: Davey for Tindall (65), Stevens for Barnes (33),
Mears for Humphreys (49).
Not Used: Walshe, Best, Delve, Fidler.
Tries: Daniel, Tindall.
Cons: Barkley 2.
Pens: Barkley 3.
Drop Goals: Barkley.
Sin Bin: Tindall (40).
Att: 6,348
Ref: D Pearson (RFU).
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