Bath (13) 20
Tries: Penalty, Crockett
Cons: Davis, Berne
Pens: Davis (2) Leicester (11) 14
Try: Vesty
Pens: Humphreys (3)
Bath downed defending champions Leicester in a tense EDF Energy Cup game at the Rec.
The visitors took an early 6-3 lead and then full-back Sam Vesty crossed before Bath were awarded a penalty try from a scrum, which Ryan Davis converted.
Bath went in at the break leading 13-11 but Ian Humphreys edged Tigers ahead again with a penalty shortly after.
Both sides had chances but Bath scored an opportunist try from centre Alex Crockett on 68 minutes and held on.
Bath were led by lock Steve Borthwick, back from World Cup duty with England, while Nick Abendanon, added to England's squad for the last week, was restored at full-back.
Leicester resisted the temptation to call on their World Cup players although Argentine prop Marcos Ayerza came off the bench at half-time to shore up a creaking scrum.
Bath coach Steve Meehan:
"I must admit I was surprised at time at the willingness of players to throw the ball around, given the conditions. "There were some marvellous phases of play. It's great to see people playing with freedom. "But we did not play as well today as we have been playing."
Leicester coach Richard Cockerill:
"Dan Cole and Dave Young are very young props and stuck to their task manfully. These guys will learn and that Bath front five was pretty much their first choice so I thought our lads stood up pretty well.
"It showed the strength we've got in the club and will only get better when our World Cup guys turn up."
Bath: Abendanon, Higgins, Crockett, Cheeseman, Stephenson, Davis, Claassens; Flatman, Hawkins, Ion, Borthwick, Short, Beattie, Scaysbrook, Browne.
Replacements: Clarke, Ovens, Purdy, Faamatuainu, Walshe, Berne, Banahan.
Leicester Tigers: Vesty, Murphy, Erinle, Cornwell, Varndell, Humphreys, Murphy; Cole, Davies (c), Young, Blaze, Wentzel, Croft, Abraham, Crane.
Replacements: Hickie, Ayerza, Moreno, Hamilton, Herring, T Youngs, B Youngs.
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