Bath plunge Leeds in deep

Bath claimed a crucial victory in the relegation showdown at Headingley to leave Leeds in deep trouble at the bottom of the Premiership.

A victory for the hosts would have lifted them off the foot of the table and above Bath, but they are still searching for their first home league win after being edged out in a predictably tense contest.

Bath dug deep to seal the win courtesy of Michael Stephenson's first-half try and five penalties from fly-half Nicky Little.

Joe Ford kicked five penalties for Leeds but despite plenty of pressure, they failed to register a try.

The hosts had not won on home soil in the Premiership since March 2008 but they soon established an early 6-0 lead with two penalties from Ford.

Ford also missed a long-range penalty attempt in the opening exchanges but after Little got the visitors off the mark in the 16th minute with a penalty, Ford claimed his third three-pointer of the match to put Leeds 9-3 ahead.

Leeds were the more adventurous side in the opening quarter, but an offence at a scrum was penalised in the 23rd minute and Little kicked the penalty to cut the gap to three points.

Dangerous

Leeds looked dangerous when on the attack but they could not penetrate the visitors' line and fell behind for the first time in the 29th minute when Bath claimed the only try of the match.

The score was set up by a powerful run down the right flank from number eight Luke Watson, who was held up just short of the line before Stephenson followed up to force his way over the line.

Little failed to add the extras from near the touchline but he and Ford traded penalties as Bath went in leading 14-12 at the half.

However, five minutes after the restart Ford kicked his fifth penalty from six attempts to edge Leeds back in front.

With desperation levels rising the match became scrappy, but it looked to swinging in Leeds' direction going into the final quarter and they threatened to score a potentially-decisive try.

Pressure

Yet Bath were back in front with 16 minutes remaining when Leeds were caught offside and Little showed notable poise to convert the resulting penalty.

That put the visitors 17-15 in front and, despite late pressure from the hosts, Leeds failed to score again.

Indeed, it was Little who added his fifth penalty in the closing minutes to boost Bath's survival hopes and leave Leeds looking at yet another drop down into second flight.