Following his failure to use a three-man overlap in the final minute when it was harder to fail than to score, Andy Goode will shortly be contacted to become a Freeman of the City of Bath. It's ironic that the man who's beefy boot seems to set up so much for the Tigers was responsible for their failure at the crucial moment in this match, when he opted to go through the middle on the Bath line rather than pass wide to his playmates. Throughout the game Goode's massive punts kept Bath pinned back in their own half and it was thanks to our own Mr Magicboot, Chris Malone, that we stayed in the game, yet alone won it.

As with last week's dire fare, this wasn't a game of free and flowing rugby. Neither team appeared to have the skills or tactics able to provide a spectacle but we mustn't forget that these games are all about the result. So, what were the key moments that secured victory for Bath? Without doubt Goode's desire for glory at the end has to be up there near the top of the list, as has the magnificent defence of 13 Westcountrymen against 15 East Midlanders. I'm sure had he been alive, Oscar Wilde would have had something to say about Bath losing not one but two props to the sin bin in as many minutes with just over 10 minutes to go. Without doubt this situation had an impact because suddenly the scrums, which Bath had lost hands down, became uncontested. I held my breath as the second binning was announced by referee Joel Jutge because it was odds on he would then award a penalty try, given Leicester were in a great attacking position. That he didn't must have signalled that the God of Rugby was wearing Blue, Black and White on this glorious afternoon in Leicester.

However, for me it was the excellent goal kicking of Chris Malone that collects the major accolade. One can celebrate great defence and great luck for not conceding a penalty try but you can't win games without scoring points and we never looked like scoring anything without help from Malone's right peg. His kicking was spot on and the distance of several kicks was unbelievable.

Bath started the game without the injured Steve Borthwick and Michael Lipman was surprisingly relegated to the bench. Zac Fea'unati, as stand in captain, stood tall in the opening moments by taking the first couple of start/re-start catchs knowing Bath had struggled in this area of their game last week. But it only took a couple of minutes for Bath to give away their first of (too) many penalties, as Andy Beattie was caught offside. Andy Goode sharpened his kicking foot for an easy 3-0 lead. However Leicester were determined to make a match of this game and within two more minutes Chris Malone drew the scores following the Tigers' forwards going over the top of a ruck.

During the first 15 minutes Bath appeared to be playing with more freedom and verve than last week but it didn't take long for Leicester to get in to their groove for slowing play to the extent that the visitors just couldn't create any momentum. Consequently Bath hardly got anywhere near the Tiger's goal line for the rest of the game: on one occasion Olly Barkley chipped a delicate and tantilising ball over the shoulder of Sam Vesty, forcing him to touch down in the goal area. Andy Higgins used his speed to pressurise Vesty but not his head in ensuring he tackled the full-back fairly. Instead of an attacking Bath five-metre scrum, Higgins' action gave Leicester a clearance kick. two more penalties apiece saw the half-time score all square at 9-9.

Bath got off to a poor start in the second half as Malone kicked straight in to touch from the restart but given his other booting victories I think we can forgive him this error! Within four minutes Goode scored what turned out to be Leicester's final points through a penalty kick, following more scrummaging problems for Bath. This wasn't because they didn't have chances to score it was just that Goode's great kicking form suddenly deserted him. Perhaps this is why he's not been in the England frame very often: when under pressure it's the mentally tough who step forward and Goode may just not have what it takes in these situations. Say what you like about Chris Malone (and a lot of people do) but he's got nerves of steel!

Malone drew things level with another massive penalty after 51 minutes and Pat Howard decided he needed to play his trump card - Austin Healy. Unfortunately for Howard, the Mighty Hairpiece made little impression. There will be quite a bit said about the carding of the Bath props and absence of a penalty try however we mustn't forget that Lewis Moody was lucky not to be binned for the second week in a row. Bath were making one of their rare forays in to the Tigers' twenty-two following a great dash forward by Nick Walsh, cleverly using the referee to shield himself from the defenders. He set up drives by Grewcock, Beattie and Flatman and when the Bath ruck was within 10 metres of the Leicester line out pops an offside Moody to smother the ball from Walshe's grasp. Bath accepted the penalty in front of the posts and with it the lead 12-15.

Bath then tried to give their lead up as though embarrassed to be in such a position. From the restart Malone gave a simple pass to Barkley but the young England star was easily charged down by a rampaging Ollie Smith and it was fortunate for Bath that the ball didn't fall at Smith's feet in the goal area.

Well in to the final quarter of the match Bath enjoyed just their third major attack when Michael Stephenson chipped a lovely looking kick up the touchline which forced Sam Vesty to shepard the ball out of play. Cheekliy the Leicester full-back grabbed the ball and threw-in quickly to get his side going but this didn't fool the eagle-eyed touch-judge who called them back for a Bath line-out. However I couldn't believe my eyes as Lee Mears threw long and Grewcock lost the ball at the back of the line in a rare attacking moment. Why? Surely this was a time to go short and try one of those clever round the front moves of just secure possession and set up a drive. Would this have happened had Steve Borthwick been playing? Stupid, wholly unacceptable and often the difference between winning and losing!

And then came almost 12 minutes of mayhem as firstly Flatman and then Filise were sin binned and Leicester threw everything but the kitchen sink at 13-man Bath. But this is where playing for your shirt, your mates, your supporters, your pride but most of all your opportunity to play in a European Cup semi-final come in to play. Everything possible was asked of the Bath players on their goal-line in the Walkers stadium and they answered all questions with a physical articulation which can only be admired and envied. Cracking stuff!

Leicester: Vesty, Murphy, Lloyd, Smith, Hipkiss, Goode, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, White, Kay, L. Deacon, Jennings, Moody, Corry.
Replacements: Holford, Buckland, Cullen, Abraham, Healey, Cornwell, A. Tuilagi.

Bath: Stephenson, Higgins, Crockett, Barkley, Bory, Malone, Walshe, Filise, Mears, Bell, Hudson, Grewcock, Beattie, Delve, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Dixon, Flatman, Short, Lipman, Williams, Cheeseman, Best.

Referee: Joel Jutge (France)

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