| Bath (7) 21 |
| Tries: Muir 2, Reid Cons: Spencer 3 |
| Leicester (9) 20 |
| Try: Moroni Pens: Ford 5 |
Ben Spencer converted a late try to give Bath victory over Leicester Tigers and keep alive their hopes of a top-four Premiership finish.
Will Muir crossed for the opening try, but Tigers led 9-7 at the break through three George Ford penalties.
Matias Moroni’s score and another Ford penalty extended the lead, but Bath had hope when Miles Reid crashed over.
Trailing 20-14 with three minutes left, Muir crossed in the left-hand corner and Spencer calmly added the extras.
Bath leapfrog Leicester to go seventh and move 10 points off a play-off place, while Leicester are 12 points behind fourth-placed Harlequins.
Late Bath rally denies Tigers
In warm and sunny conditions, Bath had more territory and possession in the first half, but Leicester took advantage of their opportunities through the boot of England international Ford.
Tigers looked on course for a rare away win at the Rec when slick hands spread the ball wide for Argentina centre Moroni to score, and Ford extended their lead to 10 points midway through the second period.
But Bath rallied in the final 15 minutes as Reid capped a spell of pressure and Spencer converted to cut the deficit to three points.
Ford’s fifth penalty of the afternoon gave the visitors some breathing space, but Jasper Wiese gave away a penalty which allowed the hosts to kick into the corner and set the platform for Muir’s late score.
The two clubs could yet meet in the final of the European Challenge Cup, but the prospect of a play-off place now looks more distant for Leicester, whose wait goes on for a first league win at Bath since March 2011.
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper told BBC Radio Bristol:
“It was always going to be a proper nip-and-tuck game.
“What we did throughout was stick to a structured way that we wanted to play.
“In the first half we gave the ball away a bit too easily in the final third, but in the second half we controlled the game.
“Ben stepped up and kicked the match-winning conversion. It was the wrong side for him and as wide as it gets, but he nailed it.”
Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick told BBC Radio Leicester:
“I think there is plenty for us to learn from the game.
“The players’ effort was absolutely magnificent and ultimately we gave them field position late in the game, and we know they are a good side.
“We knew it was going to be a big challenge here, but there are positives to take.
“Each week we try and take small steps forward.”
Bath: Watson; Cokanasiga, Joseph, Redpath, Muir; J Matavesi, Spencer; Obano, Walker, Stuart, McNally, Ewels (capt), Faletau, Underhill, Mercer.
Replacements: Du Toit, J Schoeman, Thomas, Williams, Reid, Chudley, Bailey, Gray.
Leicester: Steward; Potter, Moroni, Kelly, Murimurivalu; Ford, B Youngs; Genge, T Youngs (capt), Cole, Wells, Green, Martin, Reffell, Wiese.
Replacements: Clare, De Bruin, Heyes, Lavanini, Wallace, Wigglesworth, McPhillips, Scott.
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU).
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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