Aviva Premiership: Leicester avenge Bath humiliation

Owen Williams: Powers into a Bath tackle

Leicester brought an end to Bath’s unbeaten Premiership run with a 17-8 victory at Welford Road on Sunday.

A try from Tom Youngs and four penalties from Owen Williams gave Richard Cockerill plenty to smile about as Leicester avoided being the sixth successive Premiership victim of second-placed Bath.

The win is not only vital to Leicester’s Premiership hopes, but also revenge after they were reduced to a humiliating 45-0 loss to Bath in the reverse fixture at the Recreation Ground.

The game was punctuated by skirmishes throughout the encounter, keeping referee Matthew Carley busy all afternoon.

Bath scored the first points of the game through George Ford, who converted a penalty attempt in the fourth minute, but the visitors were unable to make any further headway in the game as their backline - including league convert Sam Burgess at outside centre - was reduced to a quiet afternoon due to Leicester's frugal defence.

A muted performance will be a blow for Burgess' international hopes, as England coach Stuart Lancaster was in the crowd to watch the match.

Leicester scored the first try of the game when Bath seemed unable to clear their lines during a period of relentless attack from the hosts. Hooker Tom Youngs claiming the score on the back of a line-out drive from the Tigers' pack.

Fly-half Owen Williams missed the conversion but two first-half penalties from the Welshman gave his side an extended lead as the teams went into the break with the Tigers 11-3 in front.

Shortly before half-time Bath appeared to have hit back through Burgess, who was denied his first Premiership try when the referee called the teams back for a forward pass from Ollie Devoto, with replays showing the call was slightly harsh.

Both teams defended well in the opening exchanges of the second half, but unlike their opponents, Leicester were able to leave with points as Williams picked up a further two penalties in in the 44th and 59th minute.

Leicester looked to have successfully closed the game out but replacement hooker Ross Batty scored for Bath in the 79th minute, giving the visitors an opportunity to claim a bonus point with the conversion. However the attempt was unsuccessful as Bath left Welford Road with no points.