Searle seals last gasp victory as Tigers stop Bath's PREM onslaught

Bath put in a huge fight with Finn Russell and Santi Carreras running the show, supplemented by Henry Arundell and Cameron Redpath but it was all vain as Tigers were roared on to victory. In their first meeting since last season's PREM final, the match did not disappoint as the home side got their revenge.

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ON-FIELD ACTION: LEICESTER TIGERS 22-20 BATH - GALLAGHER PREM

Bath started in lightning-quick fashion as Henry Arundell managed a break down the left hand side before being bundled into touch. Just one minute later, Arundell would involve himself yet again. A clever grubber kick through from Santi Carreras, which was greatly received by the winger after Tigers could not keep ahold of the loose ball. Arundell offloaded to Frost to put it down for the first score.

However, Tigers refused to lie still after going down early on the scoreboard. A period of sustained pressure on Bath's line resulted in Olly Cracknell driving over from short range.

Sam Underhill retook the lead for Bath after Frost was put through a gaping hole in the Tigers' defence. The ball was recycled and Underhill snuck through to add another five for the visitors.

Neither team was able to gain a foothold mid-way through the first half as a battle of attrition emerged. Besides the expected moment of magic from Finn Russell, Bath were uncharacteristically sloppy with their knock-on count growing.

Arundell decided to take proceedings into his own hands as he accelerated down the wing from the halfway line. He passed to Cam Redpath, who audaciously dummied Freddie Steward, to swan dive over the line.

Leicester thought they had recorded their second try as Hanro Liebenberg flew in out wide but referee Adam Leal pulled the game back for a forward pass in the buildup.

The home side would not have wait much longer as Tommy Reffell was on the receiving end of a powerful driving maul to reduce Bath's lead.

Leicester dispelled any notion of Bath running away with the game after an important start to the second half as they retook the lead.

Solomone Kata was finally able to demonstrate his brutal running ability as he plowed over Bath defenders. A couple of pick-and-go's followed before Nicky Smith was able to power over to send Tigers into the lead.

Much like the first half, another period of tussling, with neither team giving an inch, came about.

Finn Russell almost single-handedly turned the game on its head as he threw an outrageous offload to Carreras. Unfortunately, the full back could not hit the target with his pass as Bath left a try begging.

The crowd continued to roar throughout the afternoon as their Tigers tried to press home their advantage. Steward and Hassell-Collins worked well down the left wing whilst Redpath and Carreras continued to cause concerns for Leicester in broken play.

Russell finally broke the deadlock, a little under half an hour since Smith crossed for his try, with a penalty to give Bath a one point lead.

It fell to Billy Searle to snatch the win from Bath as he nailed a last minute penalty at the death after Thomas du Toit was sin binned for a high tackle.

Tries: 3 (Cracknell 7', Reffell 36', Smith 44')

Conversions: 2 (O'Connor 8', 45')

Penalties: 1 (Searle 80')

Drop Goals: 0

Yellow Cards: 0

Red Cards: 0

Starting XV: 15. Freddie Steward 14. Adam Radwan 13. Solomone Kata 12. Joseph Woodward 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins 10. James O'Connor 9. Tom Whiteley; 1. Nicky Smith 2. Jamie Blamire 3. Joe Heyes 4. Cameron Henderson 5. Ollie Chessum (c) 6. Hanro Liebenberg 7. Tommy Refell 8. Olly Cracknell

Replacements: 16. Charlie Clare 17. Ale Loman 18. Will Hurd 19. Harry Wells 20. Emeka Ilione 21. Ollie Allan 22. Billy Searle 23. Will Wand

Tries: 3 (Frost 2', Underhill 12', Redpath 24')

Conversions: 1 (Russell 25')

Penalties: 1 (Russell 72')

Drop Goals: 0

Yellow Cards: 1 (du Toit 80')

Red Cards: 0

Starting XV: 15. Santi Carreras 14. Tom de Glanville 13. Louie Hennessey 12. Cameron Redpath 11. Henry Arundell 10. Finn Russell 9. Ben Spencer (c); 1. Beno Obano 2. Dan Frost 3. Will Stuart 4. Quinn Roux 5. Ross Molony 6. Ethan Staddon 7. Sam Underhill 8. Alfie Barbeary

Replacements: 16. Tom Dunn 17. Francois van Wyk 18. Thomas du Toit 19. Ewan Richards 20. Miles Reid 21. Tom Carr-Smith 22. Will Butt 23. Arthur Green

Since returning from France, the speedy winger has been lighting up the Gallagher PREM one game at a time. You would be mistaken for thinking Arundell was a seasoned Bath player, considering how comfortable and at home he looks in blue, black and white.

In the first half, he often found space in the wide channels, showcasing his incredible acceleration. There would be many left surprised if Steve Borthwick does not select him for the upcoming Autumn Internationals. With Tom Roebuck, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman, to name a few, looking impressive also, England are blessed in the wing positions.

The rangy full back has been snubbed by England as of late, preferring either Marcus Smith or George Furbank to fill the 15 shirt. But Steward offers something in great abundance, that neither Smith or Furbank can match: aerial domination. Long been his unique selling point, Steward highlighted his aerial ability superbly.

Also, Tigers have increasingly used his right boot as an option to kick to touch from a penalty. His huge range from a kick is a key part of Tigers' gameplan. Could we see Steward back in his familiar full back shirt for England?

The former 'badboy' of rugby union returned for his third spell in English rugby, after previously spending time at London Irish and Sale Sharks. Now 35, the Australian looked mature and collected in his first start for his new club. A standout moment for him came at the start of the second half as he chipped his way over the ensuing Bath defence.

With the departure of Handre Pollard last season, Leicester have filled the sizeable gap with O'Connor, Orlando Bailey and Billy Searle. O'Connor looks set to be the first choice option at fly-half and is repaying Geoff Parling's trust in him.

Australia have suffered with selection issues as of late at fly half with Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson all filling in. James O'Connor could be set for an important role over the next few weeks.

Another new signing for Bath this season from West Country rivals, Carreras will certainly have upset a few Gloucester fans but he looks stunning in the superstar Bath backline.

During the match, he combined well with Arundell and often operated well being the link between the centres and the wide channels. His kicking game was tested but he coped well. A few neat grubbers and chips allowed Bath to pile pressure on Leicester.

The Bath centre has gone under the radar with Scotland often preferring the centre partnership of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones. With both of them going on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia over the summer, it will be hard to take their place in the team. However, if there is one player to do it, Redpath will.

His running lines and nimble feet push him into the hybrid centre box; fast enough to cut through the defence but also big enough to crash through. Redpath has been utterly impressive in the first few games of the season so far. His try scoring exploits, which he added to in this match, have been outstanding.

He will be raring to go and try and secure a starting spot for Scotland, who could look to use his skills to their advantage.

England great Lewis Moody announced being diagnosed with MND (motor neurone disease) last week and was received to a great reception by Welford Road.

Coming out at half time, Moody had to hold back tears as the crowd descended into applause for a couple of minutes.

"Today's game was a great advert for the game and we get behind our own", said Leicester Tigers head coach, Geoff Parling in the post-match media conference.

"Not just Lewis Moody, but Ed Slater as well. I was in Newcastle when Doddie was there also.

"I think we show as rugby when something happens to one of ours, that we will get behind them."

The fans were united for the whole match, keeping Moody in recent memory as he graced his 'rugby home' once more after spending the majority of his career at Leicester Tigers before moving to Bath in 2010.

When the departure of double World Cup winner, Handre Pollard, was leaving the club to return to South Africa, you would be forgiven for thinking the worst.

The huge gap in experience could have caused issues for Tigers but they have dealt with it in fine fashion.

The acquisition of proven PREM experience in Billy Searle and Orlando Bailey, plus the vast international prowess of James O'Connor, has made the fly half position very strong.

O'Connor put in a man of the match display before giving way to Searle late in the second half, who kept his nerve to seal the match for Leicester.

"I've played three different 10's in four games", said Parling.

"Which for most teams isn't an ideal position, is it? Because most teams around the league, you tend to get the 10 and then change other positions.

"I thought James came in and we wanted his steady head and experience within the group."

Outside of the first quarter, the game descended into a contest between the forwards, with neither team refusing to give an inch.

Cracknell and Liebenberg were excellent and put in tackles all across the park to try and stop Bath's momentum after they took an early lead.

"We win together and we lose together", said Bath head coach, Johann van Graan.

"In the last four years, everyone has been like this (matches between Leicester and Bath). 2022, when Will Butt scored last minute. Next season, at the Rec, they got a penalty there.

"So it's small margins between two very good teams."

The physicality on show was breathtaking as both sides heaved against each other. Much of the talk pre-game was about the pace out wide, with serial finishers Ollie Hassell-Collins and Henry Arundell occupying the wing channels.

But, we were to be proved wrong as Ollie Chessum led his side to a bruising victory.

"We stood up defensively, especially in the middle of the park", said Parling.

"Our collision work, in general, was decent. Were we perfect? No. There's all these things we can get better at."

Undoubtedly a huge day for the club with Lewis Moody's appearance as mentioned but it was the teamwork and spirit shown by Leicester that stole the result from Bath.

The crowd were in huge spirits and perhaps pushed on by Moody's appearance, Leicester never let their heads drop when Bath raced into an early lead and when Russell took the lead again close to the end of the match.

Parling said, "The heart, that we were missing before, just pour your heart into the shirt. It was a big day for everyone involved in the club."

Many will have expected Bath to continue their unbeaten streak. With a team full of internationals and proven PREM experience, Leicester managed to keep them at bay and send van Graan's side back packing down to the West Country.

"The last play of the game, the penalty", said van Graan on the moment that slipped the match away from Bath.

"It's much nicer to win that way than lose that way. I thought it was a fabulous game of rugby.

"Some good sides, it became a pressure game for the last ten minutes and Leicester got that last penalty and kicked it.

"I thought they put us under pressure in the scrum in the first half. We came back in the second half and we got that penalty to go ahead. It was a fiercely contested set piece and aerial game."