Four minutes later, the Tigers saw to it that the ball was taken into Bath’s 22, where a pass to Leicester’s flanker, Luke Abraham, gave them the opportunity to drive over the try-line.  Aggressive Bath defence meant that the home team were prevented from scoring a try and instead Leicester racked up three points for a penalty by fly half Andy Goode.

Bath’s Ryan Davis stepped up the pace and with a flowing pass to Tom Cheeseman and a quick tip of the ball to Matt Banahan, play was rapidly within the corner of Leicester’s 22, where a scrum ensued. Coming off the back of the scrum at pace, Captain, Zak Feaunati made a truculent charge, but failed to award Bath with a try and instead a penalty was executed at 11 minutes by Berne.

The formidable force of the Bath defence ensured that Leicester were unable to tally any further points until within 5 minutes of the half-time whistle.  With Leicester’s Matt Smith facing Andy Higgins after having chipped and begun to chase, his halted run signalled that the strength of the back line would not easily be broken.

After 20 minutes, young Bath star, Nick Abendanon was replaced by Jack Cuthbert after having a spasm in his back, but Matt Banahan barged through the Tigers, who were flailing off his shirt, and minutes later, an offside Leicester player gave Berne the chance to step up and put Bath six points ahead.  He did.

Nail-biting minutes before the half-time whistle blew, Andy Higgins saw to it that the crowd were kept on the edge of their seats, clearing the ball out of Bath’s 22, milliseconds before being charged down.  Unfortunately for Bath, when the whistle did sound, Andy Goode had closed the gap with a penalty kick, leaving the score at 9 – 6 to Bath at half-time.

The second half did not allow Bath to enjoy the same possession as the first, and with an opening lost line out, Leicester ensured that the ball was launched straight into Bath’s 22.

Nick Walshe, who had come on for Ryan Davis, attempted to pierce a hole in the now tighter Leicester defence, and although a rather dazed Prop, Boris Stankovich, was led off the pitch, Tiger Johne Murphy secured a further five points by planting a try that was quickly converted by Goode.

The pace became more fast and furious than the first and with the atmosphere of the crowd heightening, Leicester fed off the fans, and their fly half made a successful drop goal, handing the Tigers a seven-point lead.

Feeling the pressure, Nick Walshe went on the charge at the heart of Leicester’s defence, bursting through and halting inches away from the try line, where the ball was lost to Leicester. A scrummage followed, and Rob Hawkins took advantage of the gap in Leicester’s defence, slamming over the line for a try. Berne converted, matching the Tiger’s score 16 for 16.
 
In the dying minutes, Bath tried hard to conclude with a win, and as Shaun Berne broke through to Daniel Browne, a loss of possession and a kick from the Tigers saw the ball catapulted towards the try-line.  Andy Higgins made an explosive chase, but being unable to quite reach the ball before Leicester did, the ball was grounded for a final try.  The final whistle resounded to a 26 – 16 win for the Tigers. 

Bath:

15. Nick Abendanon 14. Andy Higgins 13. Tom Cheeseman 12. Shaun Berne 11. Matt Banahan 10. Ryan Davis 9. Michael Claassens 1. David Barnes 2. Pieter Dixon 3. Aaron Jarvis 4. Peter Short 5. Danny Grewcock 6. Andy Beattie 7. James Scaysbrook 8. Zak Feaunati (c)

Replacements:

16. Rob Hawkins 17. Lorne Ward 18. Daniel Browne 19. Jonny Faamatuainu 20. Martin Purdy 21. Nick Walshe 22. Jack Cuthbert

Leicester:

15. Johne Murphy 14. Matt Smith 13. Ollie Smith 12. Sam Vesty 11. Tom Varndell 9. Frank Murphy 1. Boris Stankovich 2. Benjamin Kayser 3. Julian White 4. Louis Deacon (c) 5. Marco Wentzel 6. Tom Croft 7. Luke Abraham 8. Brett Deacon

Replacements:

16. Mefin Davies 17. Dave Young 18. Richard Blaze 19. Jordan Crane 20. Christophe Laussucq 21. Paul Burke 22. Matt Cornwell

Scorers:

Bath:
4: Penalty Berne
11: Penalty Berne
25: Penalty Berne
61: Try Hawkins, Conversion Berne

Leicester:
7: Penalty Goode
34: Penalty Goode
50: Try Murphy, Conversion Goode
53: Drop Goode
73: Penalty Goode
80: Try M Smith, Conversion Goode