Bath ended Worcester's unbeaten home record in the Guinness Premiership with
an emphatic win at Sixways.
Fly half Chris Malone scored two tries and Gareth Delve wrapped things up in
injury time with a 70-metre interception score as Bath finally found good form
in the league to ease their relegation worries.
Worcester, strangely lacking in ambition, were ahead midway through the second
half but Olly Barkley's goal-kicking eased Bath back in front before a late
flurry of points sealed victory.
The Warriors, seeking their seventh win in a row in all competitions at
Sixways, had to take the field without England flanker Pat Sanderson, who was
nursing a back strain.
Bath, with Alex Crockett back at outside centre after being cup-tied in
Europe, were able to pair England locks Danny Grewcock and Steve Borthwick after
rotating players in the Heineken Cup in preparation for the more important
league programme.
Despite being top of pool five in the Heineken Cup, their league form has been
anything but impressive, leaving them in 10th place before the game with 13 points
- half the total achieved by fourth-placed Worcester.
Only two minutes were on the clock when Bath prop Duncan Bell was caught
shoving in the line out and Shane Drahm landed a goal from 48 metres to open the
scoring.
Bath recovered their composure as Drahm lost his on 16 minutes, however. The
fly-half was slow to get his kick away and Malone charged the ball down,
re-gathered and raced 40 metres to the posts with Barkley adding the
conversion.
Worcester were guilty of kicking away possession while it was Bath, rather
untypically, who sought to move the ball wide, anticipating the arrival of new
head coach Brian Ashton and his more expansive ideas on January 1.
Barkley could have added to Bath's lead on 32 minutes but missed a simple kick
and it was Worcester's turn to take control, kicking a penalty to the corner and
driving for the line.
Referee Sean Davey played advantage to the home team when the maul was hauled
down and, when the same thing happened even nearer the line, he ran to the posts
to award the penalty try, converted by Drahm.
There was still time for Barkley to kick an equalising goal but Worcester
replied immediately when Bell was yellow-carded for not rolling away at the
tackle and Drahm kicked the goal to send Worcester in at half-time with a 13-10
lead.
Bath not only survived the 10 minutes after the break without Bell but added
two more penalties through Barkley before flanker Kai Horstmann strode through
to score an unconverted try at the other end to regain the lead at 18-16.
With the wind beginning to aid Bath's cause, Barkley kicked two more goals
while Drahm was off target again and Bath approached stoppage time with a
four-point lead.
However Malone wriggled through for his second try on 80 minutes and Bell
wrapped things up in spectacular fashion, Barkley adding the conversions.
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