Leicester Tigers have defeated Bath 25-24 at the Rec thanks to a penalty goal from flyhalf Jamie Shillcock.
Shillcock kicked 20 points in the round three victory, head coach Dan McKellar’s first premiership win of his tenure.
It was a tight and physically brutal first forty minutes, Tigers playing intelligent rugby in the wet conditions.
Shillcock would open the scoring off the tee, kicking the first of his three first-half-penalties after three minutes.
A moment of brilliance from Shillcock’s opposite number created the only try of the half, Scottish international Finn Russell releasing wing Will Muir with a delicate cross kick.
Russell couldn’t convert, but would make it 9-8 to Leicester just before the break before adding another penalty after half-time.
Tigers were under pressure, and repeated team infringements saw lock Harry Wells go to the bin.
Eventually pressure turned to point and Bath tighthead Thomas Du Toit scored from in tight. Russell converted to extend Bath’s lead.
Tigers continued to fight and made inroads into Bath’s half. A rolling drive looked unlikely to result in a try from 10 metres out but Leicester had just the right leverage and broke free to score.
Shillcock’s conversion and subsequent penalty put Tigers in the lead.
A game full of controversy looked to have its defining moment as Russell kicked a goal with 2 minutes to play.
Tigers didn’t give up, forced an error off the kick off, earned a penalty at the scrum and Shillcock showed incredible nerve to swipe it home to win.
The final score 25-24.
Commentary
TIGERS WIN IT AT THE DEATH
Leicester have their first win over the 23/24 campaign thanks to a last-gasp penalty goal from Jamie Shillcock!
PEN | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The clock in the red and Jamie Shillcock lands a long range shot to see Leicester lead by one.
PEN | BATH RUGBY
Finn Russell takes Bath back into the lead, 24-22, with just over a minute to go.
PEN | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock lands a lone range attempt to add three and take Leicester back into the lead, 21-22, with five minutes remaining.
PEN | BATH RUGBY
Finn Russell adds three for the home side, seeing them back into the lead by two points, 21-19, with ten minutes left at The Rec.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock is on target once again, adding the two points following the try, to take Leicester back into the lead, 18-19, with just over ten minutes left in Bath.
TRY | CHARLIE CLARE
A lineout, deep inside the Bath end, is brought down then driven on by the Leicester pack - and a few backs - and over the home side's line to score through Charlie Clare.
65
LONG, OLD RIVALRY
The passion that usually comes when Leicester and Bath meet is on show today as the two sides come together after the whistle not for the first time today.
CON | BATH RUGBY
The home side extend their lead to six points, 18-12, with Finn Russell's conversion.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
Pressure pays off for the home side and, with the extra man in attack, get across the chalk through Thomas du Toit to lead 16-12 after 55 minutes.
YELLOW CARD | HARRY WELLS
Harry Wells is shown a yellow card for an infringement on the Leicester line, as Bath continue to apply pressure in attack, and Tigers are down a man for the next 10 minutes.
PEN | BATH RUGBY
Leicester's lead is cut back to one point with Finn Russell adding three for the home side to make 11-12 approaching the 50 minute mark.
PEN | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
A fourth penalty for Jamie Shillcock makes it a four-point game, 8-12, in the early stages of the second half.
UP AND RUNNING AGAIN IN BATH
Back in action in Bath with just one point separating the teams.
LEICESTER LEAD AT THE BREAK
Tigers take a one-point, 8-9, lead into the changing rooms at The Rec.
PEN | BATH RUGBY
Finn Russell cuts the Leicester lead to one with a successful attempt from the tee to make it 8-9 in the final stages of the first half.
PEN | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock with a third successful attempt from the tee to extend the Leicester lead to four points, 5-9, with five minutes remaining in the first half.
30
HALF AN HOUR DOWN IN BATH
Just the lone point separating the sides, 5-6, after half an hour of play at The Rec.
PEN | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
A second penalty-goal from Jamie Shillcock puts Leicester back in front, 5-6, after 24 minutes in Bath.
20
SLIPPERY START IN BATH
Both sides battling the conditions in Bath this afternoon with the rain and damp having an influence in the opening quarter.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
The home side take the lead, 14 minutes in, after a perfectly placed cross-field kick from Finn Russell lands for Will Muir to run it in and dive over.
PEN | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The first to put the scoreboard attendant to work this afternoon is Jamie Shillcock, with a successful penalty-goal, in the fourth minute.
UNDERWAY AT THE REC
Jamie Shillcock gets us going in Bath with a kick-off deep into the home side's half and it bounces out into touch, with the rain already playing a part!