Leicester Tigers have claimed a 35-22 bonus-point win on New Year’s Eve in front of a sell-out crowd Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
A clinical 25-minute flurry in the first half saw the visitors off, a frustrating second 40 giving Tigers something to work on ahead of the visit of Saracens on Saturday.
Tigers looked good from the off, winning the early collisions and working their way into Bath’s territory.
Despite their dominance, it was Tigers who would concede first, Bath scrumhalf Louis Schreuder pinching a pass from Pollard to score from long range.
The early knock didn’t dent Tigers’ confidence however, and I wouldn’t be long before backrow Matt Rogerson was muscling his way over the line, Pollard converting from under the sticks.
That score got the home side going, the forwards turning the screw up front with their physicality in-tight.
The backs were in the mood as well though. Generating quick ball, scrumhalf Tom Whiteley pulled Tigers attack left, and quickly around the corner. With a slight overlap, Whiteley found a perfect pass to Mike Brown and the veteran showed his class to score on his first ever Premiership start on the wing.
In the lead, Tigers went hunting for more. James Cronin and as next to score, the Irish prop burrowing under Bath defenders to score.
At 21-7, Tigers now needed just one more try for a first half bonus point, and Jasper Wiese wasn’t waiting around, the bruising backrower bowling through Bath off the kickoff.
With momentum, Tigers worked their way deep in the visitors area and George Martin was simply too powerful to stop from close range. Pollard kicked his fourth conversion to make it 28-7.
Bath did knock over a penalty before the break, making it 28-10 as the teams ran to the tunnel.
Tigers head coach Dan McKellar admitted after the game that the second half was frustrating from the home side’s point of view, but a penalty try forced at the maul early on in the second half certainly put Leicester in a strong position, 35-10, as Bath found a purple patch.
Leicester did have their chances to push on, but it was Bath who would bag a couple late tries to make it 35-22 at the final whistle.
Commentary
FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Tigers claim an important, five-try, bonus point home win against old foes Bath Rugby, finishing 2023 in style.
Full time score: Leicester Tigers 35 - 22 Bath Rugby
80
CONVERSION MISSED | BATH RUGBY
From way out wide, Bath shave the post and miss the chance to add the extras.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
Bath finish the game off with a third try, substitute Ewan Richards driving over in the corner as the clock ticks into the red.
CONVERSION | BATH RUGBY
A simple conversion for Bailey adds the extras for Bath.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
Louie Hennessey gets the visitors' first points of the second half, scoring under the posts following a break in midfield.
70
Tigers go close
The home side have been pressing for another but just can't get over the whitewash for a sixth try of the match.
A Mike Brown interception and pop to a rampaging Wiese saw them a shade from the line earlier in the half and another chance has just passed them by.
Jamie Shillcock picks up on a loose ball with a punt forward and hares after it, drawing the five metre scrum as Bath choose to touch down behind their own line.
From there a break down in the initial scrum sees Bath clear the ball but Tigers come running it back, their drives repelled and the ball turned over.
62
HUGE TURN OUT HERE AT HOME
Attendence is announced as a confirmed sell out, with 25'849 of the Tigers Family cheering on the side today!
SUBSTITUTIONS | LEICESTER TIGERS
Triple substitutions here for Tigers, all to stellar ovations, with Montoya replaced by Finn Theobald-Thomas for his maiden Premiership appearance at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Harry Wells replacing George Martin and Kyle Hatherell replacing Jasper Wiese.
SUBSTITUTIONS | LEICESTER TIGERS
Substitutions in the front row as Tigers see Cronin depart for Francois Van Wyk and Heyes leaves the field for Will Hurd.
SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
A change in the back row as Olly Cracknell replaces Tommy Reffell.
50
Tigers keeping the pressure on
The home side are desperate for more scores, with Brown and Simmons both having plenty of opportunities to probe the Bath defence.
A cheer goes up for captain Julián Montoya who collects an attempted chip and chase beautifully, before offloading to Brown.
YELLOW CARD | BATH RUGBY
Within the fracas surrounding the penalty try, Bath No. 8 Jaco Coetzee is shown a yellow card.
PENALTY TRY | LEICESTER TIGERS
Tigers strike first in the second 40, a penalty try given as George Martin almost drives over for his second.
THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY
The sun has set and the night is rolling in as Orlando Bailey kicks us off for the second period here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
HALF TIME HERE AGAINST BATH RUGBY
Tigers go into the second half with a strong lead, after Matt Rogerson's first Premiership try for Tigers added to scores from Mike Brown, James Cronin and George Martin.
Half time score: Leicester Tigers 28 - 10 Bath Rugby
PENALTY | BATH RUGBY
Bath end the half with a simple penalty from dead in front of the posts, Orlando Bailey adding the three.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Another simple kick for the fly half, duly dispatched.
TRY | GEORGE MARTIN
Just moments from the restart, Tigers score again!
It starts with a blood and thunder carry from Wiese, who smashes through several Bath players out wide and draws a penalty. Pollard duly dispatches it to touch just five metres out.
From the line-out, Tigers play it outwards, Simmons showing lovely feet to get over the gainline before lock Martin crashes over on an abrasive line to get the crowd on their feet.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
A third conversion of the game for Pollard, who adds the extras from close range.
TRY | JAMES CRONIN
The prop grabs his first try of the season!
Tigers play it short again, with Bath a forward down, and Cronin drives over from close range.
YELLOW CARD | BATH RUGBY
GJ van Velze is shown to the sin bin for stopping a potential grounding.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
The Springbok furthers Tigers lead to a converted try, with a splendid kick from out left again.
Leicester Tigers have the highest successful kick conversion % in the Gallagher Premiership this year and Pollard adds further gloss to that statistic.
TRY | MIKE BROWN
On his 271st Premiership appearance, Mike Brown grabs a try!
The full back, who finds himself on the wing today, races over after a precision miss pass from Tom Whiteley finds him in space.
20
BACK & FORTH ACTION
A second interception from the visitors sees Tom de Glanville go close but Tigers repel the Bath waves and regain possession.
Strong kicking from Freddie Steward and dancing feet from wing Harry Simmons gets Tigers back up field and the battle resumes in the centre of the pitch.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Pollard restores parity with a confident kick just to the left of the posts.
TRY | Matt Rogerson
And there's the opening score for Tigers!
Matt Rogerson gets his second try in a Leicester jersey, driving over from short range after a succession of tight carries gets the forwards over the whitewash.
10
Tigers building back
The home side are working their way back into this match, with strong carries from the likes of James Cronin and Dank Kelly.
A big turnover from Jasper Wiese on halfway lights up the crowd as does the decision to kick for the corner. Line-out incoming!
CONVERSION | BATH RUGBY
Orlando Bailey adds the extras from in front of the posts to stretch the defecit to seven points.
TRY | BATH RUGBY
Bath strike first with a canny interception from scrum-half Louis Schreuder.
Tigers had dominated the early precedings, winning the ball back in Bath's half and playing abrasive phases but Schreuder's intercept flips momentum on its head and allows the away side the early lead.
KICK-OFF
Handré Pollard gets us underway with a lofted nudge, with Steward contesting well from the off.
Bath reply with a long nudge of their own and the first kick battle of the day ensues. Ollie Chessum gets an early charge down to put the pressure on and the crowd roars in approval.
The atmosphere inside Mattioli Woods Welford Road is electric!
-5
ALMOST TIME TO KICK OFF
The crowd are in full, booming voice, with a huge roar for Leicester Tigers.
Let's get ready for rugby!
-30
30 MINUTES TO KICK OFF
There's just half an hour to go till Tigers face old foes Bath Rugby in front of a sold-out crowd here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
Take your seat in the stadium, boot up TNT Sports or stick with us here on Matchday Live for all the fireworks from the Gallagher Premiership.