Bath 6 (6) Pens: Malone (2) Leicester 6 (6) Pen: Goode Drop: Healey

Bath and Leicester cancelled each other out in atrocious conditions at the Rec.

With heavy rain cutting up the pitch, opportunities for running rugby were few and far between and both sides were restricted to playing for territory.

Chris Malone's 24th-minute penalty put Bath ahead, but Austin Healey's drop goal soon after levelled the scores.

After Andy Goode kicked Leicester into the lead, a second kick from Malone brought Bath back to 6-6 and neither side could add to their total.

Bath suffered an early setback when flanker Michael Lipman was stretchered off after falling awkwardly, but initial fears he had broken his leg seem unfounded.

Lipman awaits injury verdict

Both sides were missing several internationals, but it was the muddy conditions that had the most effect on forward slog of a match.

An early penalty effort from Goode from 40m out finished up just under the bar and Bath managed to fight their way upfield and force a penalty that Malone converted.

Leicester came closest to a try after a powerful Henry Tuilagi break through the centre of the pitch, but referee David Rose blew up for a forward pass.

Healey ensured Leicester got on the scoreboard though with a remarkable drop goal and Goode followed it up with a long-range penalty.

Malone levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time after Bath captain Andy Beattie was obstructed and as conditions continued to deteriorate, the defences were on top for the rest of the match.

A couple of drop-goal attempts from Goode went wide, while Malone's efforts with the boot also missed.

With the two teams virtually indistinguishable in the mud, Bath withstood some late Leicester pressure for a deserved draw.

Leicester coach John Wells was happy with the result.

"It was a fair result in shocking conditions," Wells said. "Both teams can take something out of it but we're chuffed.

"We played all the football in the match and got within a couple of strides of the line with some good movements.

"Bath may have had the territory but we played better football. Defences ruled. There was not much play away from scrum and lineout."

Bath: Perry, Williams, Higgins, Crockett, Maddock, Malone, Walshe, Stevens, Mears, Bell, Hudson, Fidler, Beattie, Lipman, Fea'unati, Scaysbrook.
Replacements: Lewis for Higgins (58), Wood for Walshe (72), Loader for Bell (79), Cheeseman for Lipman (6), Lewitt for Scaysbrook (79).
Not Used: Humphreys, Scaysbrook.

Leicester: Vesty, Holtby, Smith, Gibson, Healey, Goode, Bemand, Holford, Chuter, Morris, M. Johnson, L. Deacon, H. Tuilagi, Back, W. Johnson.
Replacements: Rawson for Holford (75).
Not Used: Taukafa, B. Deacon, Montagu, Abraham, Lloyd, A. Tuilagi.

Att: 10,500

Ref: David Rose (RFU).