Leicester banish Bath memories

Leicester beat Bath 17-8 at Welford Road to put memories of their 45-0 humbling earlier in the season behind them.

The defeat at The Recreation Ground was one of the most humiliating days in their history and they ended Bath's run of five successive league wins with this victory.

An early Tom Youngs try and four Owen Williams penalties were enough to see off Bath's challenge.

George Ford kicked one penalty but failed to convert Ross Batty's late try, which would have given them a losing bonus point.

While the 45-0 game had seen a Leicester side racked by injuries put in a shambolic performance, they were vastly improved and well worth the points on this occasion.

A number of off-the-ball skirmishes kept the officials busy while high-profile rugby league recruit Sam Burgess had a quiet game playing at outside centre for Bath.

Bath took an early lead through the boot of Ford and after Williams struck a post with his first penalty he landed his second attempt at goal to level the scores.

With Bath unable to get out of their own half, Leicester capitalised and after a well-driven lineout, Youngs crossed, and although Williams couldn't add the conversion, he did add a penalty soon after as Bath failed to maintain their discipline.

Bath then defended well against a Leicester onslaught and Burgess was then unluckily denied a first Premiership try when his effort was chalked off by the match officials for a forward pass.

Leicester turned round 11-3 ahead and ended the half on top.

Williams landed his third penalty after the break and Bath's frustration grew as the game went on.

Leicester held them off and Williams added a fourth penalty to open up a 14-point advantage.

In the final minute, Bath finally found their way through the Leicester defence and Batty dotted down, but Ford's late miss - with England head coach Stuart Lancaster watching on - denied them a point that they may come to rue later in the year.

With their early-season struggles well behind them, Leicester are now well in contention for the play-offs and Bath still trail Northampton by six points in second place.