 | MATCH SUMMARY Bath (12) 12
Pens: Malone (4) Leeds (13) 16
Tries: Snyman
Cons: Ross
Pens: Ross (3) |
John Connolly's final game in charge of Bath ended in defeat as Leeds' second league win in a row took them off the bottom of the Premiership table. Three Chris Malone penalties gave Bath a 9-0 lead after 25 minutes.
A Gordon Ross penalty cut the gap before Andre Snyman's try edged Leeds into a 13-12 half-time lead.
Bath dominated possession in the second half, but there was no cutting edge as Leeds' brilliant defence held on for a richly-deserved win.
The home side have struggled for tries at the Rec this season and it was easy to see why.
Led by Danny Grewcock, Bath's forwards laid on plenty of possession, but their uninspiring backs were unable to make much headway.
Nevertheless, Bath's muscular game took them into an early lead as Malone's goal-kicking punished Leeds' indiscipline.
Ross' kick on 31 minutes finally got Leeds on the scoreboard, and soon afterwards he was able to convert a try to put his side ahead.
A ponderous move saw the ball slowly shipped out to Snyman, but the South African made something out of nothing as he shrugged off Michael Stephenson's feeble tackle to cross.
Bath started the second half strongly, but a missed penalty from Malone prevented them from cutting the gap.
Leeds' players continued to tackle themselves to a standstill and another Ross penalty gave them a four-point cushion.
A frantic ending saw Bath pound the Leeds try-line through a series of forward drives, but the Tykes held on despite Tom Palmer's late sin-binning.
Leeds director of rugby Phil Davies: "Maybe we lacked a little bit of it early in the season but it's coming back.
"We are now trying to retain the momentum after these two league wins
"We had it tough to start with this season, and we've taken a bit of flak and deservedly so but now we've got the spirit going again."
Departing Bath coach John Connolly: "There have been highs and lows - we finished first and fourth and we're now in a very good position in the Heineken Cup but not in the league.
"We controlled things for most of the game, but Leeds were very tenacious.
"We had enough chances to win the game and I thought we had put it to bed before half-time."
Bath: Best; Maddock, Higgins, Crockett, Stephenson; Malone, Williams; Barnes, Dixon, Bell; Fidler, Grewcock; Beattie, Scaysbrook, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Welsh for Maddock (80), Davis for Crockett (80), Baxter for Malone (80), Lipman for Beattie (66), Delve for Fea'unati (72).
Not Used: Hawkins, Loader.
Leeds: De Marigny; Snyman, Vickerman, Jones, Doherty; Ross, Marshall; Lensing, Rawlinson, Gerber; Hooper, Morgan; Dunbar, Parks, Crane.
Replacements: Palmer for Marshall (48), Hyde for Dunbar (58).
Not Used: Cusack, Bulloch, Reid, Care, McMillan.
Att: 9,957
Referee: Rob Debney (Leicestershire)
MMIX
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Leeds have turned the corner