After losing to London Irish earlier in the season in a close encounter Bath were keen to make amends at The Madejski Stadium but it was the home side who scored first after 8 minutes when Bob Casey evaded his tackler before getting the ball to Catt who set up Sailosi Tagicakibau for a try. Shane Geraghty missed the conversion. 

Bath continued to endure Irish pressure, giving away various penalties and receiving a yellow card warning from the referee to boot. Finally the visitors capitulated to the home side pressure when Shane Geraghty broke free and fed Topsy Ojo to score under the posts. Geraghty notched the conversion to take the score to 12-0 after 17 minutes.

Bath finally woke up and the pack drove some 20 yards over the Irish goal line but were held up to prevent what seemed an inevitable try despite excellent control at the back of the rolling maul by Zak Feau'nati. However this awakening appeared to be short lived as they were not able to build on the pressure they briefly enjoyed, again giving away penalties one of which was in front of the posts to take the score to 15-0 after 27 minutes and Nick Abendanon was asked to have a 10 minute rest.

After opting to kick for touch earlier in the game, when Bath could have done with the points, Olly Barkley opted to kick his penalty a few minutes before half-time but missed to keep the score at 15-0.

Nick Walshe was replaced by Andy Williams after 6 minutes in to the second half to try and speed up the Bath game and this appeared to pay some dividends. However it was one step forward and two steps back as Bath chased the game. Having being denied a score in the first half after the referee pulled Bath back for a forward pass, the visitors dropped the ball (via Michael Stephenson) when it looked as though they must score in the second half. 

Nick Abendanon set up a great opportunity for a score by running at (and through) the first line of defence which set up Mears and Stevens to attack the goal line. It took a penalty to stop Bath in their tracks and they opted for a lineout and drive with 15 minutes to go. Danny Grewcock took the catch at the front of the lineout and was on the end of the play as his team rolled over the line to bring the score difference to within 8 points (following Barkley's conversion).

This score momentarily raised the hopes of the visiting supporters but London Irish retaliated with a wave of attacks and when Bath had the chance to move away from their goal line they dropped the ball, a disease afflicting the visitors all afternoon.

Referee: Wayne Barnes

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