Bath Rugby’s unbeaten start to the season came to a heartbreaking end as they lost 22-20 to Leicester Tigers at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road, courtesy of a last-gasp penalty from Billy Searle. Despite a promising performance featuring three first-half tries by Dan Frost, Sam Underhill, and Cameron Redpath, Bath couldn’t maintain their momentum against a resilient Leicester side.
The early stages saw Bath’s dynamic backline spring into action when Argentine full-back Santi Carreras brilliantly chipped behind the Tigers’ defense, leading to Dan Frost’s opening try. Leicester hit back immediately by dismantling Bath’s scrum, enabling Olly Cracknell to score. Bath responded with two quick tries: Underhill powered over from close-range, and Redpath finished a superb counterattack initiated by Henry Arundell.
Leicester closed the half with a try from Tommy Reffell off a driving maul, reducing Bath’s lead to just five points at the break. After the interval, the hosts capitalized on set-piece dominance as Nicky Smith scored their only second-half try. Both teams struggled to maintain fluidity amid numerous errors, but Finn Russell’s late penalty looked to have secured the win for Bath. However, a crucial misjudgment by Ben Spencer allowed Leicester a final attacking opportunity. When Thomas du Toit was penalized for a high tackle on Searle, the fly-half coolly slotted the decisive kick to snatch victory for the Tigers.
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Individually, Carreras showed promise in his first start with Bath, sparking their attack but fading in impact as the match progressed. Cameron Redpath and Henry Arundell combined effectively, though Russell and Spencer underperformed, particularly with the kicking game that ultimately cost Bath dearly.
At the breakdown, Ethan Staddon was outstanding, consistently disrupting Leicester’s ball and making crucial turnovers. Sam Underhill impressed with his physicality and strong carries, while Alfie Barbeary delivered powerful runs despite a costly penalty. Conversely, the forwards struggled in the scrum, with Will Stuart and Beno Obano punished repeatedly, contributing to Leicester’s territorial advantage.
Replacements offered mixed returns. Tom Dunn provided energy but struggled in the lineout, and Thomas du Toit’s powerful presence was overshadowed by the match-deciding penalty he conceded.
This close encounter highlighted Bath’s attacking potential but exposed persistent issues in set-piece execution and game management that must be addressed as the season progresses.