Bath edge past Exiles

Bath moved to the top of the Guinness Premiership after securing a narrow 19-16 triumph over London Irish at The Rec.

Excellent tries in either half from Mike Stephenson and Matt Banahan proved enough for the hosts for whom Olly Barkley also kicked three penalties.

They had to endure a rather nervy finale, though, as Ross Broadfoot touched down with nine minutes remaining to bring Irish right back into contention.

However, the Exiles and Matt Catt, returning to the ground where he began his career some 16 years ago, could not find another score and Bath held on to secure a victory that all but ends their opponents' faint play-off hopes.

Perhaps predictably given the awkward, unpredictable conditions which offered sunshine, snow and gutsy winds, the game got off to a scrappy start with neither side able to gain the upper hand.

Both sides traded penalties within the opening quarter hour with Eoghan Hickey striking first and Barkley responding some four minutes later.

Bath finally found their cutting edge on 22 minutes when Barkley produced an astute kick through for Stephenson who raced clear to touch down with the referee playing advantage after an infringement from the visitors.

Barkley could not add the extras, though, and Irish were soon back within two points as Hickey thumped an impressive 45-metre penalty into the wind and through the uprights.

But ill-discipline was to cost the visitors dear in the closing minutes of the first half with Barkley adding two more penalties; firstly after Irish had been penalised at the break-down on the half-hour and then two minutes before the break when wing Tomas De Vedia was sin-binned for talking out of turn.

However, Bath rapidly proved as culpable and flanker Jonny Faamatuainu suffered the same fate as De Vedia enabling Hickey to slot his second penalty and reduce the half-time deficit to 14-9.

Irish started the second period in strong fashion and looked well-placed to haul themselves back on terms as they heaped pressure on the Bath line, but, having reclaimed possession, the hosts launched a classic counter-attack and after the ball had been through the hands of Nick Abendanon, Barkley and Eliota Fuimaono, Banahan was on hand to put the finishing touch to a fine move.

Again Barkley failed with the conversion as his kick was held up by the wind, but Hickey found conditions just as testing as he failed with two further penalty attempts to drag Irish back into the game.

They did so with nine minutes remaining as Bob Casey stole a line-out throw to set up an attack from which culminated with Broadfoot powering over before slotting the conversion.

But, with home nerves fraying, Bath managed to hold out and clinched a triumph which sees them jump back above Gloucester and Leicester.