Bath suffer first defeat to impressive Tigers

Wasps are the only unbeaten team in the Premiership after Bath's 100 per cent start to the 2016-17 season ended with a 34-14 defeat at Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

Tries from Brendon O'Connor, Tom Youngs and Ed Slater helped the Tigers to a commanding victory at Welford Road, Owen Williams adding 17 points with the boot.

Semesa Rokoduguni and Tom Dunn crossed for Bath, but Todd Blackadder's men were ultimately well beaten as the hosts powered clear in the second half.

Leicester move up to fourth in the table, a point behind Bath and five shy of leaders Wasps.

The Tigers started the stronger and moved ahead through the first of five Williams penalties before O'Connor barged over from a Telusa Veainu offload for the game's opening try.

Bath were still in touch at the interval, thanks to Rokoduguni beating JP Pietersen to a high kick from George Ford and bursting clear for his fourth try of the campaign.

However, Leicester's forwards turned the screw thereafter, Youngs going over from a driving maul before Williams extended the lead to 20 points amid a succession of infringements from the visitors.

Dunn's first Premiership try gave Bath a glimmer of hope, but Leicester had the final say with a Slater score converted by replacement Freddie Burns.

 

Photo: Getty Images