Leicester Tigers 23 Bath 27: Max Clark double helps Bath survive frenetic finale at Welford Road

Max Clark
Max Clark's first-half double downed Leicester Tigers despite the hosts' comeback  Credit: Camera Sport

The madcap, wacky, all-singin’, all dancin’ world of Premiership rugby continued into its final fixture of the weekend, with try records set (50 in total) as six more were scored, three yellow cards handed out to Bath in the final 10 minutes, pain they were prepared to shoulder as they claimed their first league win at Welford Road since 2003 and resisted a desperate but ultimately doomed fightback. 

Manu Tuilagi scored on his return, Jonny May bagged a late brace on his Leicester debut, but it was Bath, prematurely written off as contenders, who had the heart, if not the cool head, to prevail. 

Bath rode their luck, took their chances, showed huge guts in defence and stuck at it. Three yellows, two for high tackles, speaks of ill-discipline. But it also indicates desire. And, in the peerless No 8, Toby Faletau, Bath had the stand-out performer. It was breathless, nervy, flawed but invigorating.

The world has tilted on its axis with southern hemisphere Super Rugby attitudes implanted in the north. The new tackle law has changed outlooks.

No more safety-first, no more wait-and-see, no more keep it tight, and, perhaps, no more getting defensive hands on the ball as easily. The Leicester hallmark used to be one of pragmatism. No more. They could perhaps have done with some of that canniness as they let slip an early lead and dominance but, hey, with a back line eager to be allowed off the leash, there is little point in the cautious approach.

Leicester Tigers Mike Williams loses a last minute lineout during the Aviva Premiership
Mike Williams loses a crucial late lineout  Credit: PA

But it was Bath’s backline that proved their equal, if not more, with the less heralded centre Max Clark bagging a couple of tries and showing resolve and cleverness across the board. Matt Banahan, despite his late sin-binning, the third to depart in that crazy finale, crossing with his scrum-half, Kahn Fotuali’i, as he returned following his yellow, was a steadfast figure.

Bath are all too aware of their status as under-achievers, finishing fifth last season and so intent on improving their dismal form away from home that they took themselves off every Tuesday to various sides over the summer to simulate playing on the road. It paid off here.

“Those practice games were all preparation for here and we turned up ready to go,” said director of rugby, Todd Blackadder. “That last 20 minutes, when Leicester came back at us, I wondered if we would blow it but we didn’t. It was all hands to the pump. We hung on by our fingernails. We can’t afford to put ourselves at risk [with the yellow cards] and we will take lessons from that. But we will also take a lot of confidence from the win.”

Jonny May
Jonny May scored a brace on his Leicester debut Credit: Getty images

As well they should, denying Leicester, who had recovered from 27-11 in the 70th minute when the yellow cards began to be flourished, with a stolen five metre line-out in the very last play.

Leicester had looked set fair. There was pace and energy and wit behind the scrum, enough grunt up-front to deliver the ball. George Ford was busy and alert, spraying passes, encouraging his men into the game. Manu had a rumble, May a wriggle, Matt Toomua a long-awaited elegant glide.

The Tigers appeared to be in the groove, forcing Bath into conceding a raft of penalties. Manu even had the joy of scoring the opening try in what was his first game since January. After so much trouble and strife, it was a lovely sight to see him run free to the try-line in the 24th minute after good build-up work from Ben Youngs, Telusa Veainu and Brendon O’Connor.

Bath
Bath survived a late Leicester onslaught Credit: Getty images

Instead of using that score as a springboard to even better things, Leicester went horribly flat. And Bath took full advantage with three tries in 12 minutes, two of them due to Leicester indifference in the tackle or rushed play. Banahan took advantage down the left flank to make some serious inroads, finding centre Clark, with a neat inside pass for the try. Clark was on the end of what used to be a trademark ploy in these parts, the close-range line-out followed by pick-and-go drives round the edges. Here it was Bath doing a Leicester. 

Then came the final indignity for Leicester just as it seemed as if they were gathering themselves. They picked up the tempo, moving swiftly left with Ford looking for possibilities. Instead the fly-half found the man he had been used for finding for the last few years, his former Bath team-mate, Semesa Rokoduguni. The wing needed no second bidding. He was away, out of the Leicester 22 and May could not get to him. There are few as potent in European rugby as Rokoduguni. This was his 40th try in 84 games for the club. And with that, Bath headed down the tunnel with a 21-8 lead. Two second-half penalties from Rhys Priestland, with one back from Ford, set the scene for the zany denouement.

Bath had been warned about high tackles. Fotuali’s was first to depart in the 70th minute followed soon afterwards by Matt Garvey. Leicester wasted chances before May went in at the corner, then finishing brilliantly for his second in the 77th minute. The crowd came alive, roared their men forward but the final line-out fluff denied them a miraculous outcome.

                                                                                                    

Full-time | Leicester 23-27 Bath

A thrilling game is over as Luke Charteris gets up to spoil the Leicester lineout. That's a fantastic win for Bath, whose defence was superb.

Yellow card, Matt Banahan!

My word. Bath are down to 13 again. Leicester have one last chance.

Try, Jonny May! Leicester 23-27 Bath, 78 minutes

Frankly ridiculous defence from Bath. Banahan makes an unbelievable tackle on Veainu and Joseph shackles Tuilagi. When the ball comes left, though, the 13 men cannot stop May, who just squeezes over. Ford nails a touchline conversion.

Yellow card, Matt Garvey, 75 minutes

A high tackle from the skippermeans Bath are down to 13...

Leicester 16-27 Bath, 73 minutes

Can Leicester hail their way back into this? Rhys Priestland's restart sails out on the full and Tigers attack from the following scrum...

Try, Jonny May! Leicester 16-27 Bath, 73 minutes

Ludicrous passage of play. Anthony Watson makes a stunning last-gasp tackle on Brendon O'Connor and almost makes one on the other wing when may is put clear by Veainu. He doesn't quite manage it, though. May dots down. However, Ford pulls his kick to the left.

Selection speculation

Leicester 11-24 Bath, 70 minutes  

Wow. That's a big gaffe from Graham Kitchener. ben Youngs went straight through around the fringes again . He drew the last man and laid it up for his lock but Kitchener spilled.

Yellow card, Kahn Fotuali'i

Bath's scrum-half goes high on George Ford and is sin-binned due to persistent infringements.

Leicester 11-24 Bath, 68 minutes 

There's the game in nutshell. Tigers attack for a number of phases but Matt Toomua spills. Max Clark hacks downfield and Bath flood through. Anthony Watson knocks on...he would have sealed the game otherwise.

Leicester 11-24 Bath, 65 minutes

Ben Youngs gets through some more sniping and Chris Cook backs through the breakdown. *New law klaxon* Penalty to Leicester.

Penalty, Rhys Priestland! Leicester 11-27 Bath, 63 minutes

Looks a long way back for the hosts now.

Leicester 11-24 Bath, 62 minutes

Tigers infringe at the scrum and then again by straying offside. That means Priestland will pop over another three-pointer.

Leicester 11-24 Bath, 60 minutes

Brendon O'Connor just about manages to hold up a Bath picker-and-goer over the line. Another five-metre scrum to the visitors.

Head-scratcher...

 Bath have another penalty and have gone to the corner again...

Penalty, George Ford! Leicester 11-24 Bath, 58 minutes

Easy three.

Leicester 8-24 Bath, 57 minutes

Leicester need a spark now and Ben Youngs provides it. He snipes past the fringe defence and is tackled high by a retreating Priestland. Ford will go for three.

Penalty, Rhys Priestland! Leicester 8-24 Bath, 56 minutes

Dan Cole is pinged for collapsing the scrum and Priestland is content to add three.

Leicester 8-21 Bath, 54 minutes    

Leicester manage to hold up the Bath forwards over the line but that mean's it's a five-metre scrum to the visitors. And here comes Nick Auterac too...

Leicester 8-21 Bath, 52 minutes   

Bath have a whiff of the bonus point as they go to the corner.

Leicester 8-21 Bath, 50 minutes  

Leicester are really struggling to get a foothold here. First a lineout goes awry and then Barrow concedes a penalty for crawling along the floor.

Meanwhile, Harry Thacker and Dan Cole are on for Tom Youngs and Dan Cole.

Match action

Space has been at a premium for George Ford today Credit: Getty Images

Leicester 8-21 Bath, 46 minutes 

Huge tackle from Malouf on Faletau in the Bath 22 but the visitors clear and then win a penalty as Kalamafoni fails to roll away.

However, the lineout is skewed. Scrum to Leicester.

Leicester 8-21 Bath, 43 minutes

Banahan drops the ball in midfield, Leicester win a scrum penalty and, a few phases after the ensuing lineout, Ben Youngs grubbers into the Bath 22. 

Ah...that's dumb. Dom Barrow gives away a penalty.

Leicester 8-21 Bath, 41 minutes

Early penalty for Bath as Nick Malouf takes Rhys Priestland in the air...they go to touch and are into the Leicester 22.

Second half

We're off again. 

Meanwhile in the Championship...

Big-spending Bristol are trailing 8-7 against Hartpury. That's crazy.

Roko man

 

Match action

Max Clark has been the first-half hero for Bath with a brace of tries. They're 40 minutes away from a fantastic away win to begin 2017/8.

Credit:  Getty Images 

Half-time |  Leicester 8-21 Bath

The last passage sums up the first 40 minutes. Leicester go through the phases. Then, when Ben Youngs tries to find Jonny May with an inside ball, the attack breaks down with a knock-on.

Leicester 8-21 Bath, 38 minutes

Sione Kalamafoni carries up the guts but bath swarm him and win a breakdown penalty. It's been a fine rope-a-dope from Todd Blackadder's men.

Try, Semesa Rokoduguni! Leicester 8-21 Bath, 35 minutes  

Awesome from Rokoduguni. Tigers fire through into the Bath 22 but the Fiji-born England international rockets off his wing to snaffle an interception from George Ford. Jonny May and Telusa Veainu chase him down but Rokoduguni's speed endurance is too good. Priestland adds another two.

Leicester 8-14 Bath, 33 minutes 

Elliot Stooke goes high on Telusa Veainu, which gives Tigers a chance to go to touch. Ellis genge rumbles away from the maul...

Fundamentals missing?

Try, Max Clark! Leicester 8-14 Bath, 31 minutes 

The visitors are ahead, and this game has exploded into life. Bath's maul is sacked but the forwards rumble around the corner to within a metre. Clark ghosts behind the  ruck and shunts over from Chris Cook's pass.

Leicester 8-7 Bath, 29 minutes

Tigers think they are clear but Telusa Veainu is pinged by referee Luke Pearce for offiside. Bath are in the corner and have a chance to snatch the lead...

Try, Max Clark! Leicester 8-7 Bath, 26 minutes

More vacant blind-side defence, another try. This time Leicester's kick-chase is lackadaisical. Bahanan storms through and draws the last man to put Clark clear. Priestland's conversion makes this a one-point game.

Try, Manu Tuilagi! Leicester 8-0 Bath, 23 minutes

Superb try from Leicester. Jonny May cuts back in from the left wing, popping off the floor to Ben Youngs. The scrum-half cuts back and links with Brendon O'Connor, who puts Tuilagi clear. That will feel very good for the centre. Ford misses the conversion, but that's extremely promising for the hosts.

Match action

Taulupe Faletau has been prominent for Bath in the early stages Credit: Getty Images

Penalty, George Ford! Leicester 3-0 Bath, 20 minutes

Easy for Ford.

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 19 minutes     

Leicester's scrum wins a penalty and Ford is going to look for three points this time.

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 17 minutes    

Fantastic defence from Bath. First they spoil the Tigers maul and then they repel numerous phases of Leicester attack. There is an excellent one-on-one tackle from Jonathan Joseph on Manu Tuilagi. We'll restart with a Leicester scrum, though, after Tuilagi's attempted offload was knocked on by Banahan.

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 14 minutes    

Ben Youngs hoists a box-kick, Jonny May races after it and tackles Anthony Watson. Tigers bully a breakdown penalty off the next phase and George Ford kicks to the corner....

Another handling error

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 11 minutes   

First big carry of the season for Ellis Genge shunts Leicester onto the front foot. Ford clears down-field and Matt Banahan's reply skews away into touch. Leicester lineout just outside the Bath 22.

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 9 minutes  

Couple of fumbles early on, here. This time Veainu spills in the wide channels. Bath have a scrum on their own 22.

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 6 minutes 

Taulupe Faletau breaks off a solid Bath scrum and the Lions number eight is in the wide channels a couple of phases later. He cannot *quite* link up with Francois Louw, though. From the resultant lineout, Matt Garvey concedes a penalty. 

This.

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 3 minutes

Eesh. That is a slick start from Leicester, with George Ford pulling the strings extremely nicely. After a run on the right for Telusa Veainu, Matt Toomua makes a break. However, his offload does not go to hand.

Leicester 0-0 Bath, 1 minute

Bath go through the phases but their attack comes to an end of the edge of the Leicester 22 when hooker Tom Dunn spills. The first scrum will be Leicester's.

Kick-off

Here we go. Rhys Priestland starts us off. It's a deep kick that Matt Toomua takes. Ben Youngs kicks but Taulupe Faletau and Anthony Watson combine to run it back...

Full house

Obviously.

Players out

The bearded Matt Garvey leads out Bath...

...seconds later, Tom Youngs heads the line of Leicester players.

Five minutes until kick-off

Matt O'Connor has been *bellowing* instructions during the warm-up.

Credit: Getty Images

Scenery

Pick out your favourite figure on this mural at Welford Road...of course, if you're a Bath fan I'll accept your favourite pantomime villain.

Credit:  Getty Images 

10 minutes until kick-off

Predictions? Fire them into the comments section.

Elementary

Credit: Getty Images 

Matt O'Connor

Tigers' Aussie coach has suggested that the new breakdown law trials have encouraged Leicester to put together multi-phase attacks...he wants his team's ball security to be on point this afternoon.

Matt n' Manu

Outside George Ford, Leicester have fielded Matt Toomua and Manu Tuilagi in the 12 and 13 shirts. This is seriously exciting - a blend of distributing precision and explosive power. 

Cover star

Ben Youngs is on the front the of the match programme for Welford Road's first game of the Premiership campaign.

Blockbuster

Great news on those weather conditions. This should be a cracker.

'I am who I am'

Burns, who is on the Bath bench today, gave our very own Dan Schofield a typically affable interview last week. Read it right here.

Credit:  Action Plus 

Burns is back in town

As we speak, Freddie Burns is out warming up for Bath...

 Nice to hear he received a warm reception.

Team news

There is plenty of intrigue among the two match-day 23s at Welford Road. I mean, pick out your favourite sub-plot from these squads:

Leicester: 15. Telusa Veainu, 14. Nick Malouf, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. Jonny May, 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Tom Youngs (captain), 3. Logovi’i Mulipola, 4. Dom Barrow, 5. Graham Kitchener, 6. Dominic Ryan, 7. Brendon O’Connor, 8. Sione Kalamafoni
Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Greg Bateman, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Mike Williams, 20. Luke Hamilton, 21. Sam Harrison, 22. Joe Ford, 23. Mathew Tait

Bath: 15. Anthony Watson, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Max Clark, 11. Matt Banahan, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Chris Cook; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Kane Palma-Newport, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Matt Garvey (captain), 7. Francois Louw, 8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16. Jack Walker, 17. Nick Auterac, 18. Anthony Perenise, 19. James Phillips, 20. Paul Grant, 21. Kahn Fotuali’i, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Ben Tapuai

Jack Walker, on the bench for Bath, is a highly-rated young hooker. Then, of course, there is a return to competitive rugby for this man(u).

Credit: Fotosport/REX/Shutterstock 

Hello..

Hi there, and welcome to our third live text commentary of what has been a frankly fascinating opening weekend of Premiership action.

Head here to read all the reports from the five fixtures so far. We've had a promotion party, a Saracens masterclass and a last-gasp heist at Kingsholm already.

What will today hold in store?

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