Bath 23-9 Harlequins

Bath's England centre Mike Tindall scored a late try to keep the battling Harlequins at bay at the Recreation Ground.

The home side looked to be cruising in the first half but threatened to let Quins back in after the break and nearly allowed the visitors a bonus point in nine minutes of injury time.

Bath reached the interval 16-3 up courtesy of a try by Ireland centre Kevin Maggs and a conversion and three penalties from Olly Barkley.

Match facts:

Bath: 23 Tries: Maggs, Tindall Pens: Barkley (3) Cons: Barkley Harlequins: 9 Pens: Burke(3)

But it was Harlequins who kept the scoreboard ticking over after the break with two quick penalties from Paul Burke to narrow the gap.

Bath's composure deserted them and, as Jonathan Humphreys left the field on the hour, so did their discipline and accuracy of passing.

Harlequins assumed the driving seat but could not convert the pressure into points.

Out of the blue on 75 minutes, Tindall pounced on Barkley's clever chip and offered the faintest hint of a dummy to Iain Balshaw before romping home.

Barkley added the conversion to settle the home sides' nerves and despite a fierce late period camped on the Bath line, Quins could find no way back.

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Bath: Balshaw, Danielli, Maggs, Tindall, Voyce, Barkley, Cooper, Barnes, Humphries, Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock, G. Thomas, Vander, N. Thomas. Replacements: A. Williams, Long, Galasso, Perry, Malone, Scaysbrook, Beattie.

Harlequins: N. Williams, Jewell, Greenwood, Bell, Luger, Burke, Duncombe, Leonard, Fuga, Gomez, Davison, Codling, Vos, Sanderson, Diprose. Replacements: Tiatia, Dawson, Evans, Miall, Bemand, Gollings, Satala.

Referee: Chris White (RFU)