Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Bath 25-17 Harlequins

Bath 25-17 Harlequins, The Recreation Ground

Bath managed to hold off Harlequins as they secured a 25-17 victory in the ninth round of the Gallagher Premiership at The Recreation Ground on Saturday.

The bonus point victory meant Bath now are at the top of the table with 32 points while Harlequins are at sixth place with 26 points.

Bath kick started the encounter with a try in the opening minute as Ollie Lawrence sent a swift pass for Joe Cokanasiga to dive in the corner but the Quins responded back almost immediately as Marcus Smith breached the defence of the home side to touchdown.

The 32nd minute saw Harlequins lose Danny Care to sin-bin for a dangerous tackle and Russell kicked a penalty goal to ensure the hosts completed the opening half with a 8-5 lead.

Bath were the quickest to get off the block in the second half Stooke drove over in the 42nd minute before Cokanasiga completed his second of the game to extend their lead to 20-5.

The visitors clawed their way with Smith kicking a penalty to the corner following which Jack Walker collected a neat pass to dot down against his former club. Smith's successful conversion meant the gap between the two teams came down to eight points.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Russell drop goal struck the posts before the Scotland international revived himself with a crossfield kick allowing Miles Reid to dot down as they increased the lead to 25-12.

With the full-time nearing, James Chisholm touched down for the visitors but it did not prove enough as Bath climbed to the the top of the table with their sixth win in the campaign.

Team line up:

Bath: Gallagher; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Muir; Russell, Spencer; Obano, Annett, du Toit, Stooke, Ewels, van Velze, Reid, Barbeary.

Reserves: Dunn, Schoeman, Stuart, Roux, Coetzee, Schreuder, Bailey, Redpath.

Harlequins: T Green; David, Joseph, Esterhuizen, Lynagh; Smith, Care; Marler, Walker, Collier, Launchbury, Lewies, Cunningham-South, Chisholm, Dombrandt.

Reserves: Riley, Baxter, Lewis, Herbst, Hammond, W Evans, Porter, Beard.