Vesty impresses as Bath stroll

Bath established their title credentials with a 32-16 victory over Leeds Carnegie in their opening Aviva Premiership match at Headingley.

Steve Meehan's side took their chances in clinical fashion to run in four tries to Leeds' late consolation effort, with Sam Vesty contributing 17 points.

Full-back Nick Abendanon crossed before the break while Vesty, Matt Carraro and skipper Luke Watson also touched down in the second half to secure the bonus point.

The visitors were hit by the late withdrawal of Olly Barkley through injury but summer signing Vesty proved a useful stand-in, while Meehan also gave first starts to Lewis Moody, Simon Taylor and Leeds old boy Tom Biggs.

But Leeds - themselves handing starting roles to five new players - refused to allow them to settle and enjoyed much of the early possession, Ceiron Thomas spurning a chance to put his side ahead after 14 minutes after Moody was penalised.

However, Bath stamped their mark on the game four minutes later when Vesty nudged over the first of two successful penalties, although Thomas was able to level when the visitors collapsed a scrum.

Momentum

Vesty missed a shot at goal from 30 yards before Thomas scored again to give the hosts the lead, but Bath were building the momentum and crossed for the first time late in the first period.

Shontayne Hape's progress was halted but Matt Banahan, a prominent figure at outside-centre, quickly recycled the ball and found scrum-half Michael Claasens.

Claasens found Vesty advancing at pace to his right and his neat pass sent Abendanon crashing over in the right corner.

Vesty added the extras but a long-range drop goal from Thomas on the stroke of half-time cut Bath's lead to a solitary point.

However, seven minutes after the restart Claasens found Vesty at the back of a scrum and he waltzed through for a try which he also converted.

Thomas then missed a penalty before Leeds replaced Titterrell with summer signing SteveThompson as they sought to claw their way back into the game.

Another penalty from Vesty gave Bath further breathing space before Carraro collected another astute offload from Claasens to saunter clear unopposed for Bath's third touchdown.

Vesty added the extras and although Bath lost Claasens to the sinbin in the closing stages for persistent infringement, the visitors grabbed a fourth try late on when Watson stole in on the blindside for a try which Vesty this time failed to convert.

There was still time for summer Thompson to burrow his way over in the dying embers and Leigh Hinton added the extras in the last play of the game.