Leicester make it eight straight wins after beating Bath
Leicester's Matt Scott breaks through on his way to score his sides second try during the Gallagher Premiership match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, Leicester. Picture date: Friday November 5, 2021.
The Leicester Tigers juggernaut marched on as they secured yet another Premiership win following a 40-23 victory over rivals Bath at Welford Road on Friday.
George Ford, who was discarded by Eddie Jones for the Autumn Nations Series, once again impressed, kicking 10 points to go alongside tries by Nic Dolly and Matt Scott in the first half.
Their West Country opponents battled hard, however, and went into the break just seven points in arrears via Max Clark’s score and successive Danny Cipriani three-pointers.
Stuart Hooper’s men reduced the arrears further in the second period, despite a third Ford penalty, as Josh McNally crossed the whitewash, but Leicester finished the stronger.
Ford touched down and converted before adding another successful effort off the tee to effectively seal the result. They then went in search of the bonus-point and got their reward as Tom Cowan-Dickie, brother of England international Luke, went over late on to secure their eighth league triumph in a row in 2021/22.
Click here for teams and scorers
Leicester took a third-minute lead through a Ford penalty. Two powerful bursts from Nemani Nadolo put the defence on the back foot and when Bath were penalised, Ford knocked over a straightforward kick.
The visitors immediately responded with a well-created try. Leicester overthrew a lineout in their 22 for Bath to capitalise when an expertly-timed pass from Cipriani to Tom Dunn was the catalyst for Clark’s score.
Bath wing Will Muir was then sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and the home side took advantage of the wing’s absence by scoring a try from Dolly following an unstoppable maul.
Leicester suffered an injury blow when former Bath player Freddie Burns departed with a rib injury and they lost their lead when a Cipriani penalty brought the scores level.
Muir returned from the bin just as fellow wing Semesa Rokoduguni left the field to fail a head injury assessment before Ford put his side back in front with a second penalty.
Leicester increased their lead when Scott, who returned from Scotland’s international camp in midweek, benefitted from a half-break from Dan Kelly to score.
But Bath remained in contention as a simple penalty from Cipriani made it 20-13.
The visitors matched their opponents in the first half and they looked to have scored a second try. Tigers’ number eight Cyle Brink was yellow carded for not rolling away before McNally forced his way over, but TMO replays showed a double movement from the Bath captain.
Leicester took their advantage to 10 points within two minutes of the restart with another penalty from Ford.
Bath’s injury woes continued when the impressive Clark required a head assessment, with the highly promising Max Ojomoh replacing him.
They overcame the setback to pick up their second try when McNally forced his way over from close range.
But Leicester restored daylight between the sides as Ford darted over in the corner after an alert Richard Wigglesworth had picked him out with the pass.
Bath still would not lie down, with Cipriani kicking a third penalty, but Ford’s fourth and a bonus try from Cowan-Dickie finally shut the door on their brave effort.