Returning Robshaw scores Harlequins win at Bath
Last Updated: 31/10/15 7:08pm
England captain Chris Robshaw began to put his World Cup woes behind him as he returned to Premiership action in a stunning 38-28 Harlequins victory at Bath.
Kiwi fly-half Nick Evans kicked eight penalties and converted tries by Danny Care and Dave Ward in a faultless 28-point display from the tee.
Bath led 13-12 at the break with a try by Kyle Eastmond but indiscipline around the breakdown cost them dearly.
Two late tries by Nick Auterac and Semesa Rokoduguni staved off humiliation, but not defeat.
The damage was done in the nine minutes after half-time when Evans kicked two penalties and also converted a breakaway try by club captain Care.
Quins looked by far the more fluent side in the first quarter and led 6-3 with two penalties by Evans to one for Ford.
But Bath wrested back control, mainly through strong carrying by their pack. Loosehead Max Lahiff was particularly impressive and front-row partner Davey Wilson's offload went astray with the line in sight.
The Harlequins defence buckled and bent under the onslaught but Bath's delivery from the breakdown was just too slow to create gaps for Ford and company behind the scrum.
Rokoduguni was a real handful in the number 14 shirt but it was Eastmond who danced down the right touchline to score on the half-hour after a well-timed missed pass from Ollie Devoto.
Ford's conversion put the home side 10-6 ahead but they conceded two penalties in quick succession, the second after debutant Tim Visser broke clear from the restart and Bath went off their feet in a ruck on their own 22.
Harlequins promptly did the same at the other end and Ford sent Bath in at half-time with a 13-12 lead.
It was a lead quickly wiped out through a calamitous nine minutes after the interval.
Evans first kicked a penalty and then Care made a devastating break from a ruck on his own 22, chipping the defence and then kicking ahead before collecting to score.
Evans added the conversion and soon made it 25-13 to Quins with a penalty.
The alarm bells really began to ring for Bath when the Kiwi landed a seventh penalty on 54 minutes. By then, Quins were three scores ahead.
Ford replied with a simple penalty at the other end but Bath began to look ragged and Evans landed his eighth penalty on the hour.
With the help of the TV match official, referee Matthew Carley showed Eastmond a yellow card for a 'no arms' tackle on Yarde.
Quins took advantage by creating a 71st-minute try for replacement hooker and former Bath player Dave Ward. Evans' conversion took his tally to an impressive 28 points.
Bath regrouped to score a catch-and-drive try through Auterac but Ford was wide with the conversion - his first miss this season.
Rokoduguni crossed on the whistle with Ford adding the conversion.
