 | MATCH SUMMARY Leeds: (16) 25
Tries: Bell
Cons: Ross
Pens: Ross 5
Drop goals: Ross Bath: (6) 14
Tries: Delve
Pens: Barkley 3 |
Bottom club Leeds boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Guinness Premiership with victory against fellow strugglers Bath. Chris Bell's try helped the hosts into a 16-6 lead at the break but Bath hit back through Gareth Delve's try to make it 16-14 after an hour.
However, Gordon Ross, who kicked 20 points in all, added two penalties and a drop goal to see Leeds home.
Apart from Delve's try Bath's points came from three Olly Barkley penalties.
Leeds, playing their 100th Premiership game, made the perfect start when poor handling from Bath allowed Leeds centre Rob Vickerman to seize possession and find Bell with a neat offload.
The Tykes wing scampered down the left flank to ground in the corner for a try converted superbly by the outstanding Ross.
Ross and Barkley swapped penalties to make it 10-3 and two more Ross efforts and one from Barkley made it 16-6 at the break.
Delve's score in the corner after 53 minutes saw Bath back in contention and when Barkley landed his third penalty the visitors were within two points.
But the pendulum swung back to Leeds after 68 minutes when Ross slotted a penalty.
And the Scottish fly-half added a drop goal and a final penalty in the closing stages to give Leeds their victory.
Leeds director of rugby Phil Davies:
"We had talked during the week about what we needed to do if things did get a bit tight or if we did go behind. "We executed that on the field and I thought Gordon Ross had one of his better games. He was very composed and kicked well at times.
"We've got 10 games to go and if we keep playing like that then we'll be picking up points."
Bath director of rugby Brian Ashton:
"The game starts at the first whistle not at 16-14 - and to put pressure on sides in any game you've got to be accurate in everything you do. "We were pretty inaccurate in the first half and deserved to go in 16-6 down.
"To make up 10 points against a very committed side at home in their position is a lot to do."
Leeds: De Marigny; Snyman, Vickerman, Jones, Bell; Ross, Marshall; Lensing, Rawlinson, Gerber; Hooper (capt), Palmer; Morgan, Parks, Crane.
Replacements: Shelley, Bulloch, Dunbar, Reid, Thomas, Care, Biggs
Bath: Perry; Maddock, Crockett, Barkley, Bory; Malone, Williams, Stevens, Mears, Bell; Borthwick (capt), Grewcock; Beattie, Scaysbrook, Feaunati.
Replacements: Dixon, Flatman, Delve, Short, Walshe, Finau, Higgins
MMIX
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