Bath bounce back to beat Worcester

Bath recovered from last week’s loss to Gloucester with a 14-16 victory over Worcester Warriors at Sixways in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday.

Worcester outscored Bath by two tries to one but Tom Homer kicked three penalties which secured the victory for Bath.

Worcester were dominant in the first half and tries from Cooper Vuna and Donncha O’Callaghan helped them into a comprehensive 14-6 lead at the break.

Tom Heathcote was in fine form in this period both from hand and the tee to help assert the hosts’ dominance.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Bath’s Tom Homer was also in fantastic form and contributed three successful kicks during the second half as Bath roared back into this basement battle.

A try from Jonathan Evans set up the comeback before a penalty from Homer with 17 minutes to go sealed victory.

Bath were precariously placed above the Premiership’s relegation dogfight prior to the match but a victory that seemed unlikely at half-time sees them go six points clear of Newcastle in 10th.

However, Worcester will rue another defeat from a dominant position, sitting just two points clear of bottom side London Irish.

Bath’s Homer got the first score of the match in the sixth minute from a penalty. The hosts got themselves into the lead in the 13th minute, Wynand Olivier broke smartly before spreading the ball out wide to Chris Pennell who unselfishly played in Vuna to score.

Heathcote added the extras for the hosts to move four points ahead. O’Callaghan stretched the Warriors’ lead with a 24th minute effort.

Olivier once more turning provider for the former Ireland international to score his first try for the club after a strong Warriors attack down the left hand side.

Heathcote converted once more to establish a commanding 14-3 lead for the hosts. Homer landed a penalty attempt on 29 minutes, cutting the gap to eight points.

An attempted drop goal from Adam Hastings nearly cut the gap even further but it was just wide.

This meant that the half-time score was 14-6 to the Warriors. Just a minute. after the break Worcester’s Bryce Heem was taken down dangerously by Max Clark, resulting in the Bath centre being sent to the sin-bin.

However, Bath were not troubled by this as they took the lead in the 50th minute. Evans was in support of Sesema Rokoduguni who had seized upon a high ball before rounding his man.

The England winger then played in replacement Evans who crossed to claw the gap back to three points. Homer’s conversion made it a one-point game with 30 minutes to play.

Homer kicked bath into the lead in the 67th minute from a penalty to complete a fantastic turnaround for the visitors.

Ryan Mills missed an opportunity to restore the hosts’ lead in the 72nd minute, missing a penalty from out wide. This was the last chance as Bath held out for a 14-16 victory.

Final Score Worcester Warriors 14 (14) Bath 16 (6)

Scorers

Worcester Warriors
Tries – Vuna, O’Callaghan
Pen –
Con – Heathcote (2)
Drop –

Bath
Tries – Evans
Pen – Homer (3)
Con – Homer
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee :JP Doyle (105th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Ross Campbell & Andrew Pearce.
TMO: Stuart Terheege.

Teams

Worcester

15 Chris Pennell , 14 Bryce Heem , 13 Wynand Olivier , 12 Andy Symons , 11 Cooper Vuna , 10 Tom Heathcote , 9 Luke Baldwin , 1 Val Rapava Ruskin , 2 Niall Annett , 3 Nick Schonert , 4 Donncha O’Callaghan , 5 Darren Barry , 6 Phil Dowson , 7 Carl Kirwan , 8 GJ van Velze (C)

Replacements ; 16 Jaba Bregvadze , 17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga , 18 James Johnston , 19 Dan Sanderson , 20 Dewald Potgieter , 21 Charlie Mulchrone , 22 Ryan Lamb , 23 Ryan Mills

Bath

15 Tom Homer , 14 Semesa Rokoduguni , 13 Max Clark , 12 Matt Banahan , 11 Horacio Agulla , 10 Adam Hastings , 9 Niko Matawalu , 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Guy Mercer, 6 Leroy Houston , 5 Tom Ellis , 4 Stuart Hooper (c), 3 Henry Thomas , 2 Rob Webber ,1 Nick Auterac

Replacements: 16 Ross Batty , 17 Beno Obano , 18 David Wilson , 19 Charlie Ewels , 20 Dominic Day , 21 Matt Garvey , 22 Jonathan Evans , 23 Jeff Williams