Homer try-double for Bath sinks Leicester

Tom Homer snatched a 13-10 victory for Bath over Leicester with his second try 11 minutes from time. Homer had started the game at full-back, crossing for an early try, but showed he is no slouch as a left wing when scoring his second to sink the Tigers.

It was Homer’s own long, rolling kick to touch that set Bath up for the opening try after four minutes. He came close to crossing on the right before unrelenting pressure finally offered him an easy overlap in the other corner. Priestland’s conversion attempt was wide.

Bath’s energy on the gain line has been a point of strength all season and Ben Obano, Elliott Stooke and co kept Leicester at bay until they conceded a penalty for illegally sacking a maul. Tom Hardwick somehow missed the simple penalty.

Freddie Burns came on for Brew, whose recall had lasted only 11 minutes, but the replacement threw a rash backhand pass which gave Tigers the chance to threaten.

When scrum-half Ben White broke through with only Burns to beat, the Bath man was up to the task, however.

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The visitors continued to hammer away at the Bath line but the home defence held firm and was happy to concede an unmissable penalty to Hardwick on 25 minutes.

On a grey, drizzly afternoon Leicester’s own midfield defence held the upper hand too until Priestland broke through on the half hour but the ball slipped out of his grasp in the tackle.

The lineout was a persistent weakness for the Tigers. They fared no better with an ambitious long throw to Sione Kamalafoni which only led to a penalty for Priestland to make the score 8-3 early in the second half.

Lively left wing Jordan Olowofela looked as likely as anyone on the field to score and his chip and chase gave Tigers sight of the Bath line from a lineout catch and drive. Bath again defended aggressively and won back possession from a maul.

But they just could not escape from their own 22. The pick-and-go routine finally paid off for Tigers when White touched down. Hardwick’s conversion gave them a 10-8 lead with 20 minutes remaining.

Bath, still pinned in their own half, could make little headway on a sticky pitch, it seemed. Suddenly, Priestland fired a pass out to Homer on the left and he stepped past Jonah Holmes to dive in at the corner flag. Priestland could not convert but Bath were back in front at 13-10.

They finished on top, but with Faletau struggling after taking a knock to the head until he was taken off for assessment.

- Press Association

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