MATCH FACTS Bath 29 (16): Tries: Tindall 2 Cons: Barkley 2 Pens: Barkley 5 Gloucester 14 (6) Tries: Goodridge Pens: Paul 2 Drops: McRae

Both of the England centre's efforts were converted by Olly Barkley, who also kicked five penalties at the Rec.

Gloucester's sole try came through Jon Goodridge, with Henry Paul kicking two penalties for the Cherry-and-Whites.

Duncan McRae slotted over a drop goal for the high-flying visitors, but Bath - who started the day in eighth - were good value for their victory.

Gloucester had never tasted success at Bath in 13 previous league visits, and never came close to ending that domination.

When we got onto the front foot after the first 20 minutes we became more forceful and had more impact Bath coach John Connolly

The Kingsholm club would have gone top of the Premiership table if they had won, and the result now means Sale - who face Leeds on Sunday - are the only side with a 100% record.

Man of the match Tindall was clearly not back to his best but his performance will have pleased stand-in England coach Andy Robinson ahead of the internationals against Canada, South Africa and Australia.

Gloucester were hamstrung by some poor kicking by Paul, who missed four of his six kicks at goal.

This run has been going on for years - it does create pressure but we should be able to handle that Gloucester coach Dean Ryan

By contrast third-choice England fly-half Barkley was in magnificent form, and his 19-point haul was the key to Bath's victory.

South Africa prop Christo Bezuidenhout came on for his debut, together with French hooker Olivier Azam, in the 45th minute but the pair were unable to turn things around for Gloucester.

The visitors continued to put the Bath defence under pressure as driving rain took its toll on the quality of play.

But Gloucester could make no further headway after Goodridge's late try, which Paul failed to convert.

Bath: Best, Higgins, Fleck, Tindall, Daniel, Barkley, Wood, Barnes, Humphreys (capt), Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman, Feaunati
Replacements: Walshe, Hawkins, Stevens, Malone, Davey, Delve, Fidler.

Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Fanolua, Paul, Simpson-Daniel, McRae, Gomarsall, Sigley , Azam, Powell , Buxton, Brown, Boer (c), Hazell, Balding
Replacements: Fortey, Wood, Bezuidenhout, Eustace, Forrester, Page, Bailey.