A last-gasp Olly Barkley kick secured Bath a semi-final place in the Parker Pen Cup but they had to rely on an inspired second-half display against Montauban to get there.

The West Country side were trailing by three points after the first leg of their quarter-final in Montauban last week and it looked as if they were heading for defeat at the break when the visitors led 15-6.

But former England star Mike Catt, who was on the bench for the first time in months following injury, turned the match Bath's way in a devastating spell of play.

Montauban had gone into an 18-6 lead just after the restart thanks to tries by full-back Pierre Bondouy and centre Pierre-Henri Vermis plus two penalties and a conversion by Vermis.

Bath's only response had been two penalties by fly-half Barkley.

And even when Barkley added another penalty to make the score 18-9, the French were still 12 points ahead on aggregate.

But Catt came off the bench to replace the injured Iain Balshaw at full-back - a serious worry for England - and the game was turned on its head.

With Catt's first touch he scored a try and then, in another attack sparked by Catt, number eight Nathan Thomas crossed the line unopposed.

Barkley added the conversion but in a breathtaking finale, with the aggregate score level - as were the tries - and the game heading for extra time, a Barkley penalty sealed the match and the semi-final place.

Bath will play either Newcastle or Saracens, who meet on Sunday.

Bath: Balshaw, Danielli, Maggs, Crockett, Perry, Barkley, Cooper, Emms, Humphries, Galasso, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Vander, N. Thomas.
Replacements: A. Williams, Mears, Mallett, Catt, Voyce, Scaysbrook, G. Thomas.

Montauban: Bondouy, Beyret, Vermis, Sieurac, Durand, Gordo, Garcia, Vancheri, Grelon, Martinez, Jeannard, Sergeev, Colome, Boukanoucha, Soldan.
Replacements: Gaubert, Mololo, Benbouhout, Marechal, Fauque, Faure, Broncan.

Referee: Hugh Watkins (Welsh RFU)