Fourth in a row for Bath

Bath punished an indisciplined Worcester display to register a 37-13 victory at the Recreation Ground - their fourth straight Guinness Premiership win.

The home side scored five tries in all, with three of them coming after Worcester flanker Tom Wood was sent off in the 62nd minute after receiving a second yellow card.

Joe Maddock scored twice in the first half and his brace was followed by tries for fellow wing Matt Banahan, scrum-half Michael Claassens and substitute back-row forward Jonny Faamatuainu.

Centre Ryan Davis also kicked three conversions and two penalties as Bath coasted to a five-point maximum.

All of Worcester's points came courtesy of Willie Walker, the fly-half scoring a converted try and two penalties, but Saturday's result means the Warriors remain deep in the relegation mire.

They have now gone almost five months without a league win - double that period for a victory away from home - and are just one point above bottom club Leeds Carnegie, who they play on April 25 in a match likely be prove hugely significant.

In contrast, Bath head to title challengers Saracens next weekend knowing that another win can place them even closer to a play-off place - a scenario that would have seemed improbable following their poor start to the season.

Worcester made one change to the side that earned a losing bonus point against Sarries at Wembley last weekend as hooker Aleki Lutui replaced Chris Fortey.

Bath boss Steve Meehan also made a front-row switch, handing prop David Flatman a start instead of David Barnes, although most eyes were on the returning Olly Barkley who started the match on the bench.

Impressive

The Warriors had the better of a slow start, with Walker opening the scoring in the 18th minute.

It came after impressive close-quarter work from Worcester's forwards, who rode roughshod through the heart of Bath's defence before Walker made light work of a weak tackle by home skipper Claassens.

Walker also converted and Bath were soon spurred into action, with an angled run by fly-half Butch James allowing Maddock to finish in the corner.

The New Zealander then embarked upon a six-minute purple patch - James striking again after a Walker penalty took Worcester 10-5 ahead.

His sweet inside pass found a charging Maddock and he easily skipped around Warriors full-back Chris Latham to post his second successive Premiership try double.

Davis converted and then kicked a penalty as Bath began to assert themselves, the home side moving 15-10 ahead at half time after Wood was sin-binned for a technical infringement.

Bath were eager to exploit their man advantage and the second half started with Nick Abendanon launching a long range counter-attack.

However, the home side then suffered a setback when James departed with what appeared to be a shoulder injury in only his third game back following knee reconstruction surgery.

Barkley, who suffered a broken leg during pre-season training last summer, therefore appeared for the final 30 minutes at inside centre with Davis moving to fly-half.

But Worcester could not respond and indeed they increasingly became the architects of their own downfall, with Latham receiving their second yellow card following a blatant body-check on Maddock.

Sparring

The Australian engaged in verbal sparring with the crowd as he departed the field and Davis punished his indiscretion by kicking the resulting penalty.

Walker pulled Worcester back to within five points but from then on in the visitors were spent.

Wood was sent off after he appeared to elbow Bath lock Peter Short, with Claassens then scoring a close-range try that Davis converted.

The Warriors were now in disarray, and Banahan crashed over to compound their misery.

Faamatuainu then sealed the win, leaving Worcester boss Mike Ruddock to right the wrongs ahead of next Friday's crucial home clash against Newcastle.