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Report | Tigers fall to Bath at home

Figure image

Leicester Tigers have fallen to Bath Rugby 20-15 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Errors across the match proved costly for a Tigers side, who had held the advantage going up to the break. 

Tigers were under an avalanche of Bath pressure early on, but it was Tigers who would grab the first points of the game, Jamie Shillcock kicking a penalty goal from in-front.

Bath would get the game’s first try through Will Muir, but Tigers were defending with all their strength, limiting the visitors opportunity to attack.

Leicester, buoyed by a Mattioli Woods Welford Road crowd in full voice, began to apply their own pressure to the game.

A try wouldn’t come quickly, but when it did, it was a peach from captain Jack van Poortvliet.

 

The captain caught Bath out of position and predominantly offside, scurried through midfield, making it right to the 22 where he was dragged down.

He then found a gap in Bath’s defence, slipped through it and dived under the sticks.

Shillcock added the extras and it would remain 10-5 at the break.

Bath scored first in the second-half, Tom de Glanville sliding across the line after a well-worked move.

Tigers continued to create opportunities, but errors at untimely moments cost Leicester, and Bath made full advantage with Pepper going over from close-range and Ben Spencer extending their lead to 10 points from the tee. 20-10.

James Cronin got one back late for Tigers, with Dan Cole providing a rare try - but Bath had the win in their hands and closed it out at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 20-15.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

LEI 10-5 BAT

FT ScoreFull Time Score

LEI 15-20 BAT

Attendance

17,898

Referee

Craig Maxwell-Keys

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
15

Full Time

Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
20
Leicester Tigers
P
T
C
T
KOHTFT
Bath Rugby
T
T
T
C
P

Match Stats

Leicester Tigers
Bath Rugby
Possession
43%
57%
Territory
44%
56%
Penalties Conceded
9
10
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
0
Tackles Won
149/175 85%
103/125 82%
Scrums Won
5/6 83%
6/8 75%
Lineouts Won
15/18 83%
10/11 91%

Player Stats

Leicester Tigers
Bath Rugby
Leicester Tigers
TCDP
15Freddie Steward
14Anthony Watson
13Izaia Perese
12Dan Kelly
11Ollie Hassell-Collins
10Jamie Shillcock1C1P
9Jack van Poortvliet1T
1Nicky Smith
2Charlie Clare
3Joe Heyes
4Harry Wells
5George Martin
6Hanro Liebenberg
7Tommy Reffell
8Olly Cracknell
16Finn Theobald-Thomas
17James Cronin1T
18Dan Cole
19Come Joussain
20Kyle Hatherell
21Ben Youngs
22Ben Volavola
23Mike Brown

Commentary

80

TIGERS BACK HOME IN TWO WEEKS TIME

We return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road in two weeks for the East-Midlands derby against reigning Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints.

Get your tickets now for what will be a fiery derby.

FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD

A late try from Dan Cole isn't enough as Tigers fall just short to Bath Rugby.

Guy Pepper's second half try and a Spencer penalty gives the visitors a narrow victory.

Final score: Leicester Tigers 15 - 20 Bath Rugby

79

CONVERSION MISSED | BEN VOLAVOLA

With just a minute on the clock, Volavola kicks it wide on the angle.

TRY | DAN COLE

A rare try for the veteran sees Tigers granted a late lifeline.

Cole actually starts it off by winning yet another scrum penalty, kicked to touch. From there, Youngs dictates the phases as forwards go crashing in before finally Cole smashes over from short range.

SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS

Côme Joussain enters the field for Harry Wells.

On the field, Tigers have been throwing the kitchen sink at Bath but can't quite breach the defensive line as we get set for a scrum on halfway.

PENALTY | BATH RUGBY

Ben Spencer takes over kicking duties and slots a penalty from just outside the 22.

72

VITAL TURNOVER

Ben Youngs, on for van Poortvliet, does superbly to win a turnover on the 22 as Bath were attacking.

70

PENALTY MISSED | BATH RUGBY

Finn Russell almost extends the lead to 10 points with a well-struck penalty just inside the Tigers half but the ball flies just wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS

Mike Brown replaces Anthony Watson on the wing.

SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS

Young hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas enters the field for Charlie Clare.

CONVERSION | BATH RUGBY

Russell adds the extras and extends the Bath lead.

TRY | BATH RUGBY

A 50.22 causes real problems for Tigers and eventually results in a try.

Possession actually changes hands a couple of times on the Tigers line but eventually young flanker Guy Pepper burrows over for Bath under the posts.

SUBSTITUTIONS | BATH RUGBY

That's Obano's last act as he's replaced by a familiar face in Francois van Wyk.

Also coming on is Niall Annett for Tom Dunn and Charlie Ewels for Ross Molony.

55

THE COLAR BEAR STRIKES!

No messing about from the replacement props, as a scrum penalty is immediately won to huge cheers from the TradeView Markets stand.

Cole has got right underneath international compatriot Beno Obano as Tigers fold the opposition.

SUBSTITUTIONS | BOTH SIDES

After a fine job in the scrum, Heyes and Smith exit to huge applause replaced by James Cronin and Dan Cole, while Shillcock also exits in place of Ben Volavola.

For the visitors, the Bayliss experiment ends early as he is replaced by scrum half Tom Carr-Smith.

 

52

PHYSICALITY RAMPING UP

Steward gives Bayliss a warm introduction to the wing with another monstrous hit that forces a knock on before Smith, Clare and Heyes win another scrum penalty.

SUBSTITUTION | BATH RUGBY

Jaco Coetzee comes on for Alfie Barbeary.

49

BAYLISS TO THE WING

With Hill's substitution for Muir, Ted has shifted to flanker meaning back-row speedster Josh Bayliss has moved to the wing.

The Scotland international has shown tricky feet against Tigers in the past, most notably in the 2021/22 season in the match at The Rec but this is a rather unique situation.

48

CONVERSION MISSED | FINN RUSSELL

Russell again can't add the extras and we remain all square here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

TRY | BATH RUGBY

Tom de Glanville scores out wide after slick hands from the scrum create space for the full back to dive over and level the game.

SUBSTITUTION | BATH RUGBY

A rather bizarre substitution, on the face of it, sees flanker Ted Hill come on for wing Will Muir, with Bath facing a shortage of backs.

The England man is an exceptional runner but this will surely test his capabilities.

45

NIP-AND-TUCK START TO THE HALF

Bath enjoy the bulk of the early possession but are unable to break down a staunch Tigers side.

Hassell-Collins fields a grubber through well, his offload then picked up by Perese who breaks past his own 22. Tigers play the phases but then clear long, subsequently trading kicks with the opposition until a wayward shot grants Bath a line out just outside the home 22. 

42

HATHERELL STAYS ON THE FIELD

Kyle Hatherell will remain on the field as Olly Cracknell failed his HIA over the half time break.

THE SECOND HALF BEGINS

The visitors get us underway as Russell kicks deep into Tigers territory. 

TIGERS LEAD AT THE BREAK

An exciting first half, despite the low score, sees Tigers hold a slender lead.

Shillcock's early penalty was cancelled out by Muir's try but van Poortvliet's superb score re-gained a deserved lead for the hosts.

Big 40 minutes to come.

Half time score: Leicester Tigers 10 - 05 Bath Rugby

SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS

Olly Cracknell exits for a HIA, replaced by Kyle Hatherell. 

37

GREAT DEFENCE AGAIN

Yet another superb defensive read sees Bath ushered into touch once more, Watson doing well to bring down Muir, with his support then hitting the wing over the line.

Tigers win the ball and clear their lines as we inch closer toward half time.

CONVERSION | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

Shlllcock adds the extras and it's a five point game.

TRY | JACK VAN POORTVLIET

A superb score from Captain Jack!

It's all come from the 9, who initially fields a clearance kick from Russell superbly; spotting Bath are way out of position and predominantly offside, he scurries through midfield, making it right to the 22 where he's dragged down.

Tigers play a couple of short phases before van Poortvliet pumps a dummy pass left and slips through a gap to run it home under the posts.

Tigers take the lead!

30

BIG SCRUM PENALTY WON

Against a trio of England internationals, the front row are superb. 

Nicky Smith, on home Premiership debut, alongside Charlie Clare and Joe Heyes are brilliantly brutal to dismantle the visitors in successive scrums and win a penalty, allowing Shillcock to kick for an attacking line out five metres out.

27

PERESE RETURNS TO THE FIELD

The Wallaby centre's time in the sin bin is up and he returns to the field.

26

BATH PRESSING THE ADVANTAGE

With a man advantage, Bath are desperately attempting to find holes in the Tigers midfield but the hosts are holding firm. 

Ollie Lawrence is defended really well by Kelly before Tom de Glanville is ushered into touch.

23

CONVERSION MISSED | FINN RUSSELL

Russell can't add the extras from the touchline and it remains a two point game.

TRY | BATH RUGBY

Wing Will Muir gets the game's opening try as Bath bite back.

An audacious pass goes to ground from the visitors but the bounce is kind, leading to Spencer feeding Muir in space who has the feet to stay infield and dive over to score.

PENALTY | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

Shillcock gets the first points of the game, slotting a penalty from almost half way with aplomb.

18

TIGERS AGONISINGLY CLOSE AGAIN

As Bath clear up field, Tigers cut through the Bath defence in mercurial fashion, miss passes and dummy lines seeing Liebenberg fly down the wing unopposed, before feeding Hassell-Collins inside.

In the act of scoring though, the wing loses control of the ball and knocks it on over the line.

YELLOW CARD | IZAIA PERESE

Perese is shown to the sin bin; as Cokanasiga looked to clear the lines, Perese's jumping attempt to block sees him collide with the wing, which the referee adjudicates as a yellow card offence.

YELLOW CARD | IZAIA PERESE

Perese is shown to the sin bin; as Cokanasiga looked to clear the lines, Perese's jumping attempt to block sees him collide with the wing, which the referee adjudicates as a yellow card offence.

14

AGONISING FOR WELLS

Tigers come so close, the maul first repelled before Perese is stopped just short from a thunderous line before finally Wells, diving over, just loses control of the ball as he tries to place it on the line.

A knock on given, it's a scrum on Bath's five metre line.

12

TIGERS ROARING BACK INTO IT

As Bath come again, Leicester steal possession from under their noses and look to break from inside their own half.

Spotting space in behind, Shillcock puts in a dangerous grubber kick that bounces into touch five metres out, putting Bath under real pressure.

Tigers win the ball in the air and look to breach the Bath line.

9

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

Again Bath make a break up the wing, this time on the right hand side as a whipped Spencer miss-pass finds Cokanasiga in space.

Hassell-Collins now tracks back superbly before the Bath short lines are met well by Tigers who then hold up Will Stuart, allowing Shillcock to clear back to the half way line.

SUBSTITUTION | BATH RUGBY

No. 8 Alfie Barbeary exits for a HIA, replaced by Jaco Coetzee

5

DEFENCE HOLDS STRONG

Bath make the game's first big break, wing Will Muir galloping through from halfway, leaving Watson to chase back and bring him down five metres from the line.

Perese and Dan Kelly then make brilliant defensive reads in succession to drag Bath backwards 10 metres as they try to go wide.

Incremental pick and go's see the visitors make that distance back but Leicester do brilliantly to get bodies into contact and hold the ball up as Bath cross the line.

3

TIGERS ON TOP EARLY

Bath clear their lines with a high box kick which Tigers win well.

Heavy carries over the gainline from the likes of George Martin free up space for Izaia Perese to make a half-break down the right wing. 

Eventually the ball is lost in contact on Bath's 22 and a scrum sees the visitors pump the ball back downfield.

WE'RE UNDERWAY AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD

Jamie Shillcock gets us underway as the sun comes out over Leicester.

The first Gallagher Premiership home game of 2024/25 begins!

-5

FIRST START OF THE SEASON FOR WATSON

Speaking of star power, few players come loaded with more than Anthony Watson.

The England and British & Irish Lions wing makes his first start of the season today.

-10

NO SHORTAGE OF STAR POWER TODAY

Bath have plenty of international superstardom in their ranks, including maverick fly half Finn Russell.

One of the big matchups today sees England scrum halfs, and respective team captains, Jack van Poortvliet and Ben Spencer go head-to-head.

JVP gets a big cheer from the Tigers Family as do the likes of Freddie Steward, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Joe Heyes, George Martin and Tommy Reffell.

-15

ATMOSPHERE BUILDING STEADILY

As Mattioli Woods Welford Road begins to fill up, there is a real buzz around the ground.

One of English rugby's oldest rivalries, Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby have produced innumerable blockbuster clashes over the years and both sides look set for another classic today.

The terrace is already packed to bursting as we get ready for the team reads today.

-20

A FIRST PREMIERSHIP HOME MATCH FOR CHEIKA

This match represents Michael Cheika first Gallagher Premiership home match.

Having lead the side to pre-season exhibition victories over Nottingham Rugby and Scarlets, the former Wallabies and Los Pumas coach will be looking for a winning competitive start against last year's defeated Gallagher Premiership finalists.

-30

HALF AN HOUR TO GO!

There's just 30 minutes till kick off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as we welcome old rivals Bath Rugby.

This looks to be a cracker so head down to Tigers HQ, tune into TNT Sports to watch live or stick with us here on Matchday Live for all the updates as we get ready for Rugby!


Opposition Lineup

Starting XV

15
Tom de Glanville
14
Joe Cokanasiga
13
Ollie Lawrence
12
Will Butt
11
Will Muir
10
Finn Russell
9
Ben Spencer
1
Beno Obano
2
Tom Dunn
3
Will Stuart
4
Quinn Roux
5
Ross Molony
6
Josh Bayliss
7
Guy Pepper
8
Alfie Barbeary

Replacements

16
Niall Annett
17
Francois van Wyk
18
Billy Sela
19
Charlie Ewels
20
Ted Hill
21
Tom Carr-Smith
22
Orlando Bailey
23
Jaco Coetzee

Team News | Martin and Watson named to face Bath

Figure image

The matchday squad for the first home game of the league season, against Bath Rugby at 3pm on Sunday at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, has been named.

Michael Cheika has included two players for their first starts of the Gallagher Premiership season in England duo George Martin and Anthony Watson.

Martin partners Harry Wells in the second row, while Watson faces his former club in a back-three alongside Ollie Hassell-Collins and Freddie Steward.

Jack van Poortvliet will lead the side from scrum-half with the returning Martin as his vice-captain. 

Tommy Reffell comes into the starting side after coming off the bench to score the match-winning try in the Round 1 away victory over Exeter Chiefs, which sees Kyle Hatherell included among the replacements for Sunday's game and Olly Cracknell shifting to No. 8 in the back row. 

In the only other change to the side from last weekend, Dan Kelly starts at inside centre in place of Solomone Kata and Mike Brown comes onto the bench. 

Summer signings Izaia Perese, Nicky Smith and - if used from the bench - Côme Joussain and Ben Volavola will make their first league appearances at Mattioli Woods Welford Road after debuting at Sandy Park in Round 1.

On the battle with Bath, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Michael Cheika said: “It’s great to be home this week. These old rivalries are fantastic for the game; with the tradition and the history, how they're going at the moment, it should make for entertainment."

“I have already got a taste of being the home coach at Mattioli Woods Welford Road but I know from experience, as the opposition, that the noise and atmosphere will be at a different level on Sunday."

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [89]

14 Anthony Watson [18]

13 Izaia Perese [1]

12 Dan Kelly [82]

11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [23]

10 Jamie Shillcock [27]

9 Jack van Poortvliet (c) [74]

1 Nicky Smith [1]

2 Charlie Clare [96]

3 Joe Heyes [142]

4 Harry Wells [200]

5 George Martin [66]

6 Hanro Liebenberg [108]

7 Tommy Reffell [115]

8 Olly Cracknell [44]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [10]

17 James Cronin [35]

18 Dan Cole [324]

19 Côme Joussain [1]

20 Kyle Hatherell [21]

21 Ben Youngs [315]

22 Ben Volavola [1]

23 Mike Brown [27]

posteamteam namepldwdlfadifftftatblbpts
3
Leicester Tigers
Leicester TigersLEI32017444301161110
4
Bath Rugby
Bath RugbyBAT32018467171282010
Form Guide
Form
WWWLW
Last Match
Beat Newcastle Falcons 42-10
Past Meeting
Lost 15-20
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
WLWWL
Last Match
Lost to Bristol Bears 26-36
Past Meeting
Won 20-15

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Bath Rugby
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