Bath's hopes of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals suffered a devastating blow on Saturday in Treviso where they were comprehensively outplayed for long periods on their way to deserved defeat.

John Connolly's side will seek revenge at the Recreation Ground next Saturday and at least picked up a bonus point after fighting back from a 19-3 half-time deficit to force the hosts to defend bravely in the dying minutes.

But Bath's late effort was simply not enough to overcome Treviso, who can rightly claim to being Italy's flag-bearers in all competitions.

The hosts snaffled the first two of hooker Lee Mears' line-out throws, and soon afterwards Treviso centre Marius Goosen kicked the first points with a penalty for offside.

A minute later Treviso launched a move from Gareth Delve's spill which ended with left-wing Gonzalo Canale crashing through attempted tackles by Matt Perry and Brendon Daniel before stretching out to score.

Goosen converted, but Bath claimed their first points as centre Olly Barkley slotted his only first-half shot at goal after the hosts dragged down a menacing Bath rolling maul deep inside the home 22.

That penalty was soon cancelled out by Goosen, who went on to add two further three-pointers to give his side their half-time cushion.

Worryingly for Bath, the last of Treviso's first-half points came after prop Duncan Bell was penalised for the second time by Irish referee Simon McDowell for collapsing a scrum.

Barkley gave his side some hope five minutes after the break with his second penalty after Treviso were caught offside in midfield. But seven minutes later the game's defining moment ensured the visitors would be the latest to fall at the stronghold of Italian club rugby.

Bath wing Daniel beat two men to race away and touch down triumphantly at the corner, to apparently finish off Bath's best move of the day.

But it was all in vain - because Bath had launched their attack after an infringement by prop Bell who shoulder-charged full-back Brendan Williams.

Play was therefore brought back to the visitors' 10-metre line, from where Williams' kick had landed.

Goosen then slotted another penalty, confirming it would not be Bath's day.

The home centre missed another shot midway through the second half, and Barkley kicked his third penalty.

But from there, Treviso closed down the contest at every turn - and they were successful until the game exploded back into life in the last 10 minutes.

Bath at last got reward for their honest endeavours up front, prop David Barnes claiming the score after he was driven over the line by a mass of blue-and-white jerseys for Barkley to convert.

But Treviso replied with a spectacular try of their own, touched down by Goosen for a score the centre converted himself.

Bath scrum-half Nick Walshe ensured the contest would go down to the wire by bursting away for a superb solo try, again converted by Barkley - but it was not enough.