A second-half comeback wasn't enough to chase down Bath Rugby in the Gallagher Premiership Final.
Despite crossing for the first try of the match, just five minutes into the game, Leicester Tigers relinquished the lead and trailed 20-7 with just 13 minutes on the clock.
Two late tries for the Tigers bookended a penalty to Bath to make the difference just two points, 23-21, with three minutes to go. However, despite the best efforts of Leicester, who were a man down with Dan Cole in the sin bin, Bath held on to claim the win and the 24/25 Premiership title.
The Final, which was witnessed by a sell-out crowd of 82,000 fans at Allianz Stadium, doubled as a last appearance in Leicester Tigers colours for Julián Montoya, Handré Pollard, James Cronin, and Matt Rogerson, as well as retiring duo Ben Youngs and Cole.
It took just five minutes for the first points, sending the Tigers contingent in Twickenham crazy, when Jack van Poortvliet scored after a patient build-up from the Leicester pack.
On the end of a near 50m touch finder from Pollard, Tigers brought the ball down from a lineout and drove towards the Bath line before, just two phases later, the scrum-half dived over from close range.
Pollard converted the try from out wide to make it 0-7.
A penalty goal to Finn Russell made it a four-point difference, 3-7, in the 10th minute.
Both sides continued to trade blows before Bath had their first try in the 26th minute, through Thomas du Toit, which Russell converted to make it 10-7, which was followed by a further blow when Montoya was shown a yellow card for what was ruled to be high contact.
A man down in the scorching summer sun, Tigers held on in defence during the final ten minutes of the first half before welcoming Montoya back just before the break.
Russell slotted a second penalty just before the break to see his side take a six-point, 13-7, lead into the changing rooms.
Pollard missed a chance to close the gap by three in the opening minutes of the first half before Bath extended their lead when Russell intercepted a Pollard pass and found Max Ojomoh in support to send over for their second try. The Bath fly-half converted to make it 20-7.
Both sides went to their bench to add spark in the final quarter and it delivered an exciting finish for the 82,000 fans, with the injection of energy serving up a stellar finish to the game.
Bath looked to have a third when Guy Pepper crossed but after a lengthy TMO check the score was rubbed out for a knock-on earlier in the attacking play and the difference remained seven points.
Youngs and Cole received standing ovations when brought on, from both sets of fans, for a deserved acknowledgment of their memorable careers for both club and country.
The Leicester comeback began in the 67th minute when Solomone Kata crashed over from close range and Pollard converted to make the difference six points, 20-14.
After Cole received a yellow card for what was deemed late contact in an attempt the charge down a Russell kick, the Bath fly-half slotted a penalty goal to take his side's lead back out to nine points, 23-14, with nine minutes remaining.
A man down and fighting for everything, replacement back rower Emeka Ilione scored in the 75th minute - which Pollard converted - to see the teams separated by just two points, 23-21, which is where it remained despite a tense finish to the game for all watching on.
Commentary
FULL TIME
Bath hold on in the dying minutes and Russell boots the ball out of play.
The final whistle is blown. Leicester Tigers left it all out there but fall by two points in the Gallagher Premiership final.
Full time: Bath Rugby 23 - 21 Leicester Tigers
CONVERSION | POLLARD
The Springbok narrows the gap to two points.
TRY | EMEKA ILIONE
Bath are penalised for going off their feet and Pollard kicks superbly, a five metre attacking line out won from inside the Tigers half.
The maul comes oh so close but a penalty is given, then another. On the third, Tigers tap and Ilione powers through two tacklers to smash the ball down.
PENALTY | BATH RUGBY
Finn Russell slots a penalty from thirty metres out, to the left hand side.
YELLOW CARD | DAN COLE
Cole is sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
CONVERSION | POLLARD
Handré Pollard adds the extras and it's a six point game.
TRY | SOLOMONE KATA
Hassell-Collins with a tremendous break to set this off, bursting from nowhere up to the 22.
Tigers play several phases, huge carries from Ilione setting the tone before Kata finds a blade of whitewash to touch down.
SUBSTITUTION | TIGERS
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
With a vital scrum in midfield and just over fifteen minutes to go, on comes Dan Cole for Joe Heyes.
A big final quarter hour of rugby for the legendary prop.
63
TRY DISALLOWED | BATH RUGBY
Despite the conversion and kick off, play is pulled back as it emerges Will Muir knocked on in the build up to the Pepper try.
Score remains Bath 20 - 07 Tigers.
Francois Van Wyk, Will Stuart, Josh Bayliss and Alfie Barbeary are all on for Bath.
61
CONVERSION MISSED | BATH RUGBY
Finn Russell fires wide.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
Flanker Guy Pepper picks and goes down the blindside, beating one defender and gassing another to touch down in the corner.
57
COOL CLEARANCE
De Glanville gets up really well to knock a high ball back to Spencer, who catches at full tilt.
The #9 is tackled well by Steward though, smashed into touch and Ben Youngs clears the lines after the line out is thrown to the tail.
TWO FURTHER REPLACEMENTS
To applause from almost 80'000 fans here, Ben Youngs trots onto the field for his final half hour in professional rugby.
He replaces Van Poortvliet, while Tommy Reffell is also replaced by Emeka Ilione.
REPLACEMENT FOR TIGERS
Joseph Woodward is replaced by Izaia Perese.
CONVERSION | BATH RUGBY
Simply slotted from Russell.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
Bath knock on in successive minutes and Tigers have a foothold back in the Bath half.
However, a wide pass is picked out of the air by Finn Russell who sets off.
With Steward in the line of attack no one is near the 10. Hassell-Collins races back and somehow catches up but it's for naught as the Scotland ace flings a ball over the top to the supporting Max Ojomoh.
43
PENALTY MISSED| POLLARD
That scrum wins a penalty strongly.
Tigers initially play but it's called back and Pollard opts for the posts.
The Springbok drags his effort wide however.
WE'RE BACK UNDERWAY
Russell hits a lofted kick and we're back in action.
Tigers respond with a long box kick and Bath's reply dribble out so we have an early Tigers scrum five metres into the Bath half.
40
CHANCES FEW AND FAR BETWEEN FOR BOTH SIDES
Bath have been on top thus far but battle has raged across the park today as an all-court game has seen thrills and spills in equal measure.
A nervy half saw a fair number of knock ons as both sides tackle the beating sun as well as one another.
It's still very much all up for grabs here as the teams re-enter the field.
HALF TIME
Bath lead at the break by six points after a pair of Russell penalties sit either side of a Thomas du Toit converted try.
Tigers opened the scoring through Jack van Poortvliet.
Half time score: Bath Rugby 13 - 07 Leicester Tigers
PENALTY | BATH RUGBY
Finn Russell slots a monstrous three points from halfway, the cannon of a boot ending the first half.
38
SKIPPER AND TOMMY TURNOVER RETURN
To their credit, Bath do well to win a scrum penalty, the ball kicked to halfway.
Tigers, however, win it back, the league's highest average line-out stealers thieving another.
A kick tennis battle ensues, van Poortvliet eventually calling the mark after a superb catch.
With the ball cleared to halfway, Montoya and Reffell return to the field.
36
Almost a sensational score
Hassell-Collins kicks us off here, winning the ball in the air and allowing Tigers quick ball.
A couple of grunting carries later and Pollard dinks a chip over the top for Radwan to run onto.
The wing smashes the covering Muir before his pop up is spilled, allowing van Poortvliet to seize on it.
Radwan has a dance and the forwards have a few crashes but the last 22 metres can't be breached and a knock on halts the Leicester momentum.
Scrum Bath, on their 22.
33
HELD UP
Bath pour forward once again, consistently finding a yard of space to keep moving forward.
As it looks like they'll power over, Adam Radwan does superbly to get his body under the ball and hold up the ball as Pollard clears back to midfield.
32
Tigers EXIT
Under considerable pressure, van Poortvliet and Pollard make no mistake, a clearance from behind the goal line hands Bath a line out just outside the Tigers 22.
31
VITAL DEFENCE FROM HENDERSON
Bath make successive half-breaks which allow them to get right up to the Tigers line.
As Tigers scramble and Bath keep popping the ball up for another runner, Cameron Henderson makes a vital intervention, tackling Quinn Roux as he looks to power over and forcing a knock on for a scrum right on the line.
YELLOW CARD | JULIÁN MONTOYA
The Tigers skipper is sent for 10 minutes in the sin bin following a high tackle.
Charlie Clare comes on as a front-row replacement.
CONVERSION | BATH RUGBY
Russell converts with aplomb from the right hand side.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
Gaining space down the right hand side, Bath suddenly explode through the gainline after a massive carry.
It's Springbok prop Du Toit who reacts quickest, picking the ball from the breakdown and dotting home.
24
REAL BATTLE THUS FAR
This is a proper final.
Both teams are working hard in relentless heat, we've seen line breaks, smashing shots and some really strategic kicking.
As I'm typing this, Freddie Steward absolutely slams Will Muir, the wing going for the bosh but getting bodied by the Tigers fullback.
Bath look dangerous down the short-side but Tigers get over the ball superbly to regain possession and clear their lines.
21
DYNAMITE RADWAN
Having won the ball back, Adam Radwan collects the ball on a short line and busts through two tackles, almost streaking away but is just hauled down.
Cracknell-esque from the wing!
20
SEVERAL ERRORS
From the base of the scrum Olly Cracknell picks and goes, a massive run that sees the league's most consistent carry threat run over Ben Spencer before being hauled down after twenty metres.
van Poortvliet looks to snipe but is hauled down and a minute later the 9 kicks straight to touch.
From said line out Russell then knocks on so we have a Leicester scrum five metres into the Bath half.
This time the South-Westerners get the better of Tigers and Russell can kick to touch for a line out inside the Leicester half.
16
BIG HITS FLYING IN
A messy scrum results in a free kick for Tigers.
Bath want to play here and come smashing back, the ball eventually kick-passed to Joe Cokanasiga who is tackled well by Pollard in the wide channel.
A moment later, Sol Kata busts out a monster hit in midfield and Bath knock on shortly after.
13
Trading possession
Again, Tigers err in midfield and this time Bath opt to kick to the corner.
It's just inside the 22 for the line out and it's immediately flung out the back for hard carries in central positions.
Tigers fly up to meet them and eventually force a knock on and kick long. Bath respond in kind and Steward tangles with Bath fullback De Glanville in the air.
The ball is knocked forward and a brief water break is called prior to a scrum.
PENALTY | BATH RUGBY
Tigers infringe at the breakdown and Bath punish the error, Russell slotting a penalty from 30 metres to narrow the scores.
CONVERSION | POLLARD
From the right hand side, Pollard makes no mistake.
TRY | JACK VAN POORTVLIET
Tigers strike first!
The maul lands inches out but JvP reacts quickest and dots it down in an inch of space.
4
Early penalty wins line out
Tigers get the nudge on and blast through the scrum, after an initial reset.
Winning a penalty sets a huge marker and the fans voice their approval - Pollard kicks to touch and we get set for a line out around five metres out from the Bath line.
2
early aerial dual
Both sides look to the skies early, the latter box kick knocked on by a Bath player so we enter the game's opening scrum, Tigers ball.
KICK OFF
Handré Pollard gets us underway here at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham!
-1
We're ready
There's a moment of silence as Allianz Stadium remembers the victims of the Air India disaster.
Following this, Sam Ryder plays the national anthem on an electric guitar and the crowd are pumped up for this.
Kick off is here.
-5
The team's are here.
With Julián Montoya leading out the side, Tigers emerge to a barrage of pyrotechnics, smoke and a ROARING crowd who are set for action.
-15
SUN SHINES ON TWICKENHAM
The whole area is glowing golden in what are perfect conditions for a game of rugby.
The wind is still and only a smattering of clouds dot a shimmering blue sky.
There's nowhere on earth you'd rather be than counting down the minutes to what is set to be a spectacular final.
-25
Tigers legends bow out on biggest stage
Amongst the replacements, however, contain two players who, cumulatively, have more caps for Leicester Tigers than Pollard has points.
Dan Cole and Ben Youngs have 342 and 337 total appearances for the club they have called home for close to two decades.
Two academy graduates who have become legends in Leicester, this will be their last dance as they call time on the most stellar of careers.
After a moving farewell at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in their final start and then final appearance at Tigers HQ in successive weeks, the pair prepare for their final game in professional rugby today.
Of course, Cole and Youngs haven't just crafted legacies in green, red and white but also whilst wearing the rose of England.
The two most-capped men's internationals of all time will play their final minutes in rugby at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, their second home. A fitting farewell for two undisputed greats of the game.
As the team's are announced over the tannoy, the biggest roars of all are reserved for the two departing Tigers.
-35
A Fitting Finale
There are a number of stars set for their final appearance in green, red and white today.
The aforementioned Tigers captain will be bowing out with his 78th Tigers appearance since joining in January 2020. The hooker has scored 29 tries in that time - could he round out that total today?
Montoya is joined in departure by a fellow international star, Handré Pollard.
The Springbok fly half is bringing three seasons in Leicester to an end. In that time, the back-to-back World Cup winner has made 53 appearances, scoring eight tries alongside 124 conversions and 61 penalties for 474 total points in a Tigers jersey.
He's scored 34 points in the last two World Cup finals - how will he fare in the Gallagher Premiership's showpiece?
-42
Tigers arrive at Allianz Stadium
-45
The Final
-50
WE'RE SET FOR ACTION!
The sun is beaming down and the teams have arrived at a packed Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Tigers went first through the tunnel of supporters, lead by Bhangra drummers, Welford & Stealth and club captain Julián Montoya who gets set for his final match as a Leicester Tiger.