Bath Rugby secure top six finish with spectacular comeback at Welford Road

Bath Rugby fought back in spectacular fashion from 26-12 down to make it back-to-back victories against Leicester Tigers this season. The bonus-point 31-32 victory sees Bath finish the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership season in the top six, with Heineken Champions Cup rugby guaranteed for next season.

The first points of the game came after just four minutes, with Bath opening with an early try. Ruaridh McConnochie made a scintillating break on halfway leaving a number of Leicester defenders trailing in his wake before offloading inside to Max Wright in support. The centre found Will Chudley on his shoulder, with the scrum-half hauled down five metres from the line. However, Chudley showed his quick-thinking to pop the ball up to Anthony Watson, who marked his 100^th appearance for the Club with a try. Freddie Burns added the extras to take Bath into an early lead. [0-7]

Leicester responded moments later, with former Bath man George Ford slotting a long-range penalty. [3-7]

It was a frantic opening 10 minutes to the game, with Leicester going over for their first try following a well-executed catch and drive from a line-out. After close consultation with the TMO, Craig Maxwell-Keys awarded the try, with Will Spencer the man to rise under a pile of bodies. Ford added the conversion to put his side three in front. [10-7]

Bath quickly got back in front two minutes with their second score of the game, with the back line taking centre stage. A half-break from McConnochie gave Bath front foot ball on the Leicester 22. The visitors quickly recycled possession from right to left and the quick hands put Joe Cokanasiga through in the corner for his ninth try of the season. [10-12]

The points kept flowing in at Welford Road, as Ford put his side back in front with a routine penalty with 18 minutes played. [13-12]

Leicester were next to strike and it was Brendon O’Connor, who scored Leicester’s second of the afternoon. Following a series of phases on the Bath line, the back rower found his way over to score. Ford added the conversion. [20-12]  

Ford maintained his 100% record from the tee with a penalty from in front of the sticks 10 minutes before the interval.  [23-12]

With the clock ticking towards half-time, Bath were reduced to 14 men with Max Lahiff shown a yellow card for taking the man without the ball. Ford stepped up and kicked a successful penalty. [26-12]

Bath had the last say of the half, with replacement Rhys Priestland getting his first points of the game from the tee.

Half-time – Leicester Tigers 26-15 Bath Rugby

Four minutes after the interval, Sam Aspland-Robinson was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Bath continued to pile pressure on the Leicester defence and Beno Obano ensured Bath left the 22 with a try, as the prop muscled his way over the line. Burns’ conversion put Bath within four points on the scoreboard. [26-22]

The hosts immediately found their way back up to the other end of the field and Clayton Blommetjies was the man to profit, as the winger dived through in the corner following quick hands on the right wing. Ford’s conversion drifted right of the uprights. [31-22]

Priestland moved Bath to within seven with 14 minutes to play, following sustained pressure in the Leicester 22. [31-25]

The three point score from Priestland proved crucial come the final stages as Kahn Fotuali'i broke from the back of a scrum, midway inside the Tigers half with four minutes left to play. The scrum half took play to just metres out before the forwards took over. The attritional phases from Bath eventually led to prop Jacques van Rooyen bundling his way over to reduce the deficit to just a point. Priestland stepped up and slotted the decisive conversion to put his side ahead with less than a minute left to play. Charlie Ewels collected the restart and Bath saw out the final stages to take the victory and guarantee Champions Cup Rugby next season. [31-32]

Full-time - Leicester Tigers 31-32 Bath Rugby