Bath are setting a fierce pace at the top of Pool Five in the Heineken Cup after picking up a winning bonus point against the French.

Coming on top of last weekend's win in Dublin, it leaves the west country side with back-to-back games in December against Glasgow to almost guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.

Bourgoin, without French international lock Pascal Pape and skipper and number eight Julien Bonnaire, still promised to pack quite a punch up front but Bath had met the challenge head on and eventually finished well on top.

In the last 15 minutes they rattled up 23 points as the shackles finally came off and there was a huge roar around a packed Recreation Ground as England and Lions lock Danny Grewcock wrapped up the bonus point with the fourth try in injury-time.

The first half had been a pretty shapeless affair as Bath's Olly Barkley and Bourgoin full-back Alexandre Peclier swapped penalties.

It was 9-9 soon after the half hour as Barkley again punished Bourgoin's tendency to drift offside in midfield.

Crucially referee Nigel Owens sin-binned French centre Jean-Francois Coux for that offence and Bath eventually took advantage in first-half injury time when the excellent Lee Best offloaded to skipper Steve Borthwick and the second row plunged over for the opening try. Barkley's conversion sent Bath in at the break with a 16-9 lead.

Although Bath had the advantage of the wind in the second half, it was Bourgoin who scored next, fly-half Benjamin Boyet chipping over a penalty after Bath were penalised at the scrum.

Bath had most of the possession, however, and should have scored again but a groan went around the ground as Lions prop Matt Stevens looked for contact rather than passing to a free player on his right.

When replacement number eight Zak Feaunati was taken out at a line-out after 66 minutes, Barkley restored Bath's seven-point advantage and that sparked his side into action.

Their second try came in unlikely fashion as full-back Best opted not to concede a five-metre scrum but to run out from his own line.

When Feaunati drove away to set a ruck, Bath did not kick for touch but broke away from the 22 through Ryan Davis who scampered up-field before finding Barkley with a return pass.

The England centre almost reached the post but the ball was quickly recycled for Stevens to crash over for an unconverted try.

Barkley made it 27-12 three minutes later with a long-range penalty and Bath finished things off with some panache as first James Hudson finished off an attack inspired by Michael Lipman, making his first appearance of the season after a cheekbone injury, and when Barkley converted there was still time for Grewcock to round things off.