Tigers punished for indiscipline

Bath exploited Leicester's second-half misdemeanours to score a 43-25 win.

Two Bath tries in the last 10 minutes ignited a dour Guinness Premiership contest against Leicester and handed the home side both a 43-25 win and a bonus point.

In a physical match dominated by two heavyweight packs, Leicester stayed in touch for the opening hour largely through the kicking of Andy Goode.

But the Tigers' second-half indiscipline was to cost them dear, the visits of both flanker Louis Deacon and centre Dan Hipkiss to the sin bin allowing Bath to take full advantage.

Late scores from full-back Nick Abendanon (pictured) and winger Joe Maddock thus provided Bath with a full haul of points against a side which had defeated champions Sale in the opening week.

Ollie Barkley and Goode traded penalties in the opening minutes, with the home side making the most of turnover ball to take a decisive lead five minutes later.

Zak Feaunati started the move, and with Lee Mears carrying the ball on, captain Steve Borthwick appeared wide to touch down.

Another Goode penalty, given after an apparent offence against Tigers' scrum-half Scott Bemand, gave Leicester a two-point lead.

And the Barkley versus Goode duel was the highlight of what remained of the opening period, Leicester full-back Sam Vesty the only other contributor to the scoreline with an opportunistic drop-goal.

Leicester thus led 22-17 at half-time but things started to go awry for the visitors seven minutes into the second half when Deacon was sin-binned for obstructing a ruck.

With bath opting for a line-out, their pack drove Feaunati over the line for a try converted by Barkley.

Another Goode penalty briefly handed Leicester a 25-24 lead but Barkley again cancelled it out on the hour.

Their duel became physical moments later when Goode's high-tackle left Barkley incapable of kicking the resulting penalty, Chris Malone deputising to make the score 30-25.

Having recovered, Barkley then scored another penalty after the sin-binning of Hipkiss.

Bath then scored the try of the match, with Abendanon finishing off a sweeping move that crossed the length of the pitch.

And the bonus point was earned one minute from time when Maddock went over in the corner.