Bath shut out by Lamb

Lamb: Full house

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London Irish cut Saracens' lead at the top of the Guiness Premiership to four points with a 16-0 victory over Bath at the Recreation Ground.

The Exiles were indebted to fly-half Ryan Lamb, who scored all his side's points courtesy of a try, conversion, two penalties and a drop goal, as the players struggled to come to terms with difficult underfoot conditions.

The result leaves Bath just three points ahead of bottom-placed Leeds with only a solitary victory in nine outings this term.

Lamb failed with an early attempt at goal from 45 metres but on 11 minutes he charged down an attempted clearance from Nick Abendanon and flopped on the loose ball to score.

Another penalty attempt went wide after Stuart Hooper was caught throwing a punch, but after the same player was guilty of a late tackle Lamb made no mistake with 24 minutes gone.

Winger John Rudd appeared to have touched down after the break but the television match official ruled it out, although Bath's reprieve did not last long when Lamb landed another penalty from 40m.

The TMO again ruled in Bath's favour after an hour when Lamb's grubber kick cannoned off Matt Banahan into Peter Hewat's arms, the winger making for the line only to be held back by the combined efforts of Nicky Little, Banahan and Shontayne Hape.

It was a brief respite though as the Exiles' pack continued to apply the pressure, which gave Lamb the opportunity to drop a goal on 67 minutes.

The hosts began to see more of the ball as Irish eased off the gas, number eight Luke Wilson going closest to scoring when charging for the posts, only for the visitors to be awarded the scrum put-in and subsequently clear the danger.