George Ford kicks late penalty as Bath edge Leinster
Last Updated: 23/11/15 9:02am
George Ford kicked a 76th-minute penalty to clinch a 19-16 victory for Bath over Leinster at the Recreation Ground.
The fly-half sent an early reminder to new England head coach Eddie Jones of his quality by booting 14 points - three penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal - as Bath also collected a second-half penalty try.
Leinster, who were crushed at home by Wasps last Sunday, have now lost their opening two games of a European campaign for the first time since 1996 and face Champions Cup holders Toulon in back-to-back fixtures next month.
Jonathan Sexton kicked 11 points for the Irish province, including the conversion of substitute back-row forward Josh van der Flier's late try to level proceedings with 10 minutes remaining, but Ford had the final say.
Bath made all the early running, with wing Semesa Rokoduguni leading a promising early break deep into opposition territory.
But when Stuart Hooper infringed at an eighth-minute ruck, Sexton kicked Leinster ahead with ease from 40 metres, only for Ford to land an equalising penalty and then kick a drop-goal six minutes later as Bath looked to make their possession monopoly count.
Leinster had not been in the game as an attacking force and were fortunate not to fall further behind seven minutes before the break when impressive Bath wing Matt Banahan ran strongly from just inside Leinster's half.
The visitors enjoyed their best spell as half-time approached but they could not add to Sexton's early penalty and Bath trooped off with a 6-3 interval lead that should have been considerably more.
Ford launched the second period by making a slashing midfield break, yet the fact it ultimately came to nothing summed up an opening 45 minutes when Bath's intent was not matched by deed.
Ford and Sexton exchanged penalties in quick succession as Bath moved 9-6 ahead and that was the cue for Cullen to change both his props, with Jack McGrath replacing Cian Healy and Martin Moore taking from Mike Ross.
Sexton slotted a third penalty to bring Leinster level but Bath's forwards had started to enjoy a clear upper hand, which was underlined when referee Jerome Garces awarded them a 62nd-minute penalty try.
Leinster could not cope with Bath pressure from a set-scrum near their own line and Garces' patience ran out following a second reset scrum, with Ford's conversion opening up a seven-point advantage.
But Leinster fought back impressively, and a flowing attack ended in Van der Flier touching down, with Sexton adding the extras to again restore parity.
It ensured a frantic final 10 minutes launched by Sexton missing a penalty from just inside his own half, but Ford came up trumps with just four minutes remaining and Leinster were left with just a losing bonus point for their efforts.
