Match Report: Gallagher Premiership: Leicester Tigers 36-31 Bath Rugby
George Ford kicked 21 points
©PA
Leicester Tigers 36-31 Bath Rugby, Welford Road
Scorecard
Leicester Tigers came from behind to beat Bath Rugby 36-31 in the fifth round of the Gallagher Premiership at Welford Road.
This is Leicester's second win from five games as they move to the seventh place in the table while Bath Rugby are at ninth place.
It took Bath just three minutes to get their opening points as Josh McNally burst his way at the back of the maul sending Beno Obano over the line but few minutes later Taulupe Faletau was withdrawn for a Head Injury Assessment.
Leicester suffered a setback with Jasper Wiese sin-binned in the 14th minute for a head-high tackle on Anthony Watson and Bath immediately made use of the numerical advantage with Ben Spencer dotting down. Rhys Priestland kicked both the conversions as the the visitors raced to a 0-14 lead.
As Leicester returned to full strength, George Ford kicked back to back penalties to reduce the arrears to eight points and Ellis Genge breached a number of defenders to set up Freddie Steward for his side's opening try making the scoreline 13-14. As the break was approaching, Priestland and Ford exchanged penalties making it 16-17.
Leicester seized the lead for the first time with Nemani Nadolo paving way for Harry Wells with Ford's conversion increasing their lead to 23-17. Priestland kept the visitors in the game with three straight penalties as the final quarter started with the teams levelled at 26-26.
However, the home side ascended into the lead with replacement Cameron Henderson dotting down while Ford kicked a conversion and a penalty apiece which proved enough despite a late try from Cameron Redpath.
Team line-up:
Leicester: Steward; van Wyk, Taute, Scott, Nadolo; Ford, B Youngs; Genge, T Youngs, Cole, Wells, Green, Martin, Liebenberg, Wiese.
Reserves: Clare, Leatigaga, Heyes, Henderson, Wallace, van Poortvliet, Henry, Murimurivalu.
Bath: Watson; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Redpath, McConnochie; Priestland, Spencer; Obano, Dunn, Stuart, McNally, Ewels, Faletau, Underhill, Mercer.
Reserves: Walker, Schoeman, Judge, Stooke, Bayliss, Reid, Chudley, Matavesi.
