Before the game Toby Flood failed a fitness test and the fly-half spot returned to Sam Vesty. This turned into a lucky break for Tigers as Vesty comfortably outplayed his more decorated opponent, Butch James.

It's been said about Butch that he doesn't have middling games, he's a either a hero or a zero.  While not entirely plumbing the depths today, he definitely had a game to forget and looks very jaded and tired. I'm a huge fan of Butch, but boy does he need an off-season.

The game started very nervously, Butch kicked out on the full from the kick-off and Tuilaga threw a weak forward pass. Leicester knocked on a few times, Bath, through James, went to the line but forced kicks and passes and they went wrong. After 20 minutes, Bendy got pinged for holding on after a run back and Vesty kicked the three points. Straight after the kick-off, Bath made another mistake, Banahan got turned over and Hape got pinged for not rolling away. Vesty stepped up made it 6-0 after 21 mins.

Bath upped the tempo after the restart, Banahan made good inroads and Claassens showing clever skills. After Tuilagi was bundled into touch however, Bath forced another ball to Hape and the move was ruined. By this point, Butch was not having a good game, poor distribution, kicking and overall game management. Bath had lots of territory and possession but little incision or commitment at rucks.

After 31 minutes, Claassens then showed his tenacity and won a kickable penalty from a Tigers scrum. Butch sadly shanked the kick and Bath fans began to feel that it was going to be one of those games. At the same time Shaun Berne came on for Crockett for a blood injury.

Bath had upped the pace however and won another penalty around halfway. After a kick to the side, and another slick lineout, Hape showed a sweet dummy to a loop move and burst through. After another dummy to draw Murphy out (not the easiest of things to do), Hape offloaded to Berne to go over. Butch converted and Bath led at the break 7-6.

Bath had played poorly in the first half, but took a lead into half-time. They immediately built on their lead as excellent work by Lipman won a penalty in front for Butch - and the South African slotted it.  Tigers 7 - Bath 10 at 44 minutes.

The game then degenerated for a while - a series of very messy breakdowns, poorly officiated (although not in any one side's particular favour) led to two penalties for Tigers. Vesty slotted both and Tigers were back in front, 12-10 after 55 minutes.

All 5' 9" (as everyone knows, Patrick!) of Lee Mears then got in way of a Geordan Murphy 22-dropout. Good work from Lipman and Banahan saw the ball spun out to Maddock who stepped around Ben Kay and scored out wide. Butch bounced the conversion off the upright, but Bath were back ahead 15-12 after 65 minutes.

Scaysbrook came on for Jonny F at the restart, but very poorly gave away a penalty immediately. This was very amateur play and if Scays wants a contract for next season, this was not the way to go about it. Vesty continued his immaculate kicking display and tied the game, 15-15 after 66 minutes.

The game became ever more tense with lots of scrappy play back and forwards and multiple turnovers on each side. Abendanon went off with a very bad hit off the ball from Tuilagi and Higgins came on, and with time ticking down Tigers started looking for a drop goal. As everyone looked to charge down, Dupuy got confused as to his recipient. As the fog over his vision cleared, he noticed the Bath defence had run past him and took off. A great finale for Tigers, a gutting loss for Bath who hadn't really deserved to lose, but had made too many mistakes to deserve to win.

Positives were Hape, Claassens and Lippy (who is a class above in our back row). Butch was not great, but we made way too many mistakes elsewhere and suffered from the last minute realignment with Bendy going off. A note on the last try, Dupuy did very well, Maddock had little chance in the middle of the pitch. It's the sort of tackle that Bendy gets criticised for missing, but I thought he had a pretty solid game today.

So where now? Well, Hell's bells boys, there's a Premiership to be won! This is not a time to worry about our problems and potential signings for next season. This is a time for absolute focus and dedication for four more games. If we win two, we'll be in the playoffs and we'll get a week off to recuperate. There's no time to lick our wounds, it's time to pour all our frustrations into beating Newcastle and then smashing Sarries at home.

As for Tigers, congratulations, I hope you smash the unworthy Blues in Cardiff. And then we get to tonk you in a rematch at Twickers.

Leicester : G. Murphy, Hamilton, Hipkiss, Erinle, Tuilagi, Vesty, Ellis, Ayerza, Chuter, Castrogiovanni, L. Deacon, Kay, Croft, Woods, Pienaar.

Replacements : Dupuy for Ellis (51), Newby for L. Deacon (47), Crane for Pienaar (46). Not Used: Davies, Cole, Rabeni, J. Murphy.

Bath : Abendanon, Maddock, Crockett, Hape, Banahan, James, Claassens, Flatman, Mears, Bell, Harrison, Short, Beattie, Lipman, Faamatuainu.

Replacements : Higgins for Abendanon (74), Berne for Crockett (32), Hooper for Short (56), Scaysbrook for Faamatuainu (67). Not Used: Hawkins, Ion, Bemand.

Ref : Allan Lewis (Ireland).

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