Two quick-fire tries just before half-time helped Harlequins emerge victorious from a grim battle with struggling Bath at The Stoop.

England centre Will Greenwood, playing as an emergency fly-half, and wing Matt Moore both crossed to put the home side on the way to a third consecutive home league victory.

Two second-half penalties from full-back Nathan Williams kept Bath at arms' length in a game of limited quality.

All the visitors could manage was three penalties from Olly Barkley, and they remain entrenched in the Premiership's bottom three.

Bath's only league win of the season came on the opening day against London Irish.

They were hampered at the outset when fly-half Mike Catt was declared unfit with a hamstring injury, casting doubt on his participation in England's date with the All Blacks next week.

Centre Mike Tindall also caused anxiety for the England management when he limped off with a possible recurrence of a thigh injury 10 minutes from time.

Quins had former Springboks captain Andre Vos making his debut three days after arriving in London from South Africa.

But any lingering jet-lag seemed to have rubbed off on his team-mates as Bath dominated the opening exchanges.

Despite promising breaks from centre Mike Tindall and wing Simon Danielli, they failed to finish off a string of promising openings.

Quins lock Bill Davison was sin-binned for killing the ball after quarter of a hour, but Bath only profited to the tune of a Barkley penalty as the first quarter drew to a close.

By contrast the home side, despite being second best for the first half-hour, immediately made their extra man count when Bath prop Simon Emms was sin-binned for bringing down a maul after 35 minutes.

First Greenwood stretched over from close range from the ensuing penalty.

Full-back Williams, who had earlier been held up over the line by Barkley's last-ditch tackle, converted to make it 7-3.

Moments later scrum-half Nick Duncombe's sniping break was the catalyst for Moore to cross in the right corner for a 12-3 half-time lead.

Moore might have grabbed a second, only for Barkley to save another try with a last-ditch tackle.

The wing brought Bath to within three points at 12-9 with his third penalty after 54 minutes.

But Williams restored the six-point cushion on the hour and his third successful kick three minutes from time sealed a vital victory.

Harlequins: Williams; Moore, Satala, Greenstock, Gollings; Greenwood, Duncombe; Leonard, Fuga, Gomez, Davison, Codling, Tiatia, Vos, Diprose.
Replacements: Rudzki, Starr, Evans, Sheriff, Bemand, Jewell, Fitzgerald.

Bath: Perry; Danielli, Maggs, Tindall, Barkley; Catt, Cooper; Emms, Humphries, Galasso, Borthwick, Grewcock, G Thomas, Lyle, N Thomas.
Replacements: Blake, Long, Barnes, Crockett, Mallett, Scaysbrook, Beattie.

Att: 8,311

Referee: Ashley Rowden (RFU)