The score line perhaps flattered Bath a little, as after a try by Chris Pennell with seven minutes to go Bath were just six points ahead at 25-19, but they were well worth their victory.

All week leading up to the match Brad Davis and Steve Meehan were publicly encouraging the players to not be scared of going out and playing, rather than going into their shell, and this is exactly what Bath did. There was very little kicking (in contrast to the Gloucester match) from Bath, and their counter attack punished anything aimless that Crichton and Worcester produced.

Worcester certainly came with high expectations and produced a solid and impressive start. They received a penalty off the kick off, and from the resulting play, Debney saw a Bath player off their feet and was penalised which left Crichton to make it 3-0. They had the possibility of making it 6-0 on 9 minutes for Matt Stevens failing to roll away but Crichton consequently missed.  Worcester infringed three minutes later, which left Butch James with an easy kick just beyond the 22. Every Bath fan knew that the kick was far from easy.  However he slotted it with his casual ease and Bath levelled the scores 3-3.

On 14 minutes Tuitupou was penalised for making a "hit" (a tackle with no arms) and from the resulting penalty Bath moved into Worcester's half, from where the move of the match was executed. Some hard running initially got Bath beyond the advantage line and some delightful offloading by the forwards created space. Stevens and Flatman showed the skills of a fly half to get the ball to James in centre field who gave a quick ball to Maddock who advanced with pace and purpose down the left wing. He tried to step Latham who came up with a great last gasp tackle, but Maddock had the enterprise to offload to Claassens who delivered it wide to Harrisson who produced a stunning 15 metre ball to Abendanon in acres of space. Aware that the Worcester defence was at sixes and sevens, he saw he had a forward against him, so he stepped brilliantly off his left to beat three defenders to score under the sticks to a standing ovation. James added the conversion 10-3.

Just a minute later Bath extended their lead, after receiving a kick from Crichton Abendanon launched a big up and under that was chased hard by Cuthbert who nailed his man and managed to turn the ball over, the quick ball generated by Classens was spread wide and a magnificent pass from Berne gave Maddock room to step off his right and score another great try. Butch added the two for a 17-3 lead. A dubious decision from the referee to award a penalty for a high tackle allowed the Warriors to cut the deficit to 17-6.

Just before the break Berne made a scything break at pace through the centres and offloaded to a supporting runner who was brought down just short by Rasmussen who laid all over the ball and was subsequently sin binned. Bath opted for a 5 metre scrum instead of an easy three points and the decision looked to have back fired after a spill in midfield, however a minute later a collapsed scrum lead James to make it 20-6. A magnificent penalty kick from Pennell from all of 50 metres kept Worcester in the match at 20-9 at half time.

Bath started off the second half slowly, with their attacking ambition, and eagerness to generate quick ball deserting them for the first fifteen twenty minutes. Crichton added another penalty for 20-12 and then missed another shortly after Pennell made a strong run, as nerves started to flutter.

As replacements started to arrive (Bath changed their entire front row in response to the Warriors changing theirs.) Bath found an unlikely hero in Duncan Bell. The giant prop had only been on the field for four minutes and he had the Rec rocking. Crichton received a kick in his 22 and he launched it long towards half way where Butch fielded it and ran along the 5 metre channel and gave an exquisite blind pass to Berne who scooted up the touch line, where he cut in field to find Lipman who then drew Latham to give Bell a run to the line from twenty metres who showed great pace to fight of the covering Pennell and scored to a standing applause, 25-12.

Bath looked to be back to form, making a dazzling break from their own 22 only for Cuthbert to be turned over in the Worcester half. Then with eight minutes to go from nothing, Tuitupou who was kept quiet all afternoon from defiant midfield defence broke through the line to give Pennell a scoring pass under the posts to make it with the easy conversion 25-19 and a nervous last eight minutes.

Bath brought on Scaysbrook and Fuimaono to try and inject a spark, which came through complete luck. Maddock went high on Tuitupou and Worcester expecting a penalty it seemed stopped playing, the ball popped up from the ruck and Lipman strolled over from twenty metres for the bonus point and the relief of the crowd.  Berne took over then kicking duties and failed from the corner.  With the game now won Bath threw all the replacements on Stephenson getting his first taste of first team action for a while, as well as Bemand. With the last play of the game Bath came up with another sweeping attack and with some sharp handling from Fuimaono and Stephenson Berne scored on the touchline capping a fine individual display. James converted from the touchline to wrap up an impressive 37-19 victory on a fine afternoon.

The man of the match is difficult to adjudicate with a whole host of names standing out. Stevens showed he was back to decent form, the lineout was perfect with Harrisson showing he is a slick operator and as enthusiastic as a teenager. Shaun Berne was outstanding and added real direction to a backline that looked very sharp. Abendanon was superb safe at the back and a constant threat going forward magnificent.  Claassens was exceptional once more and his work rate and ability to produce quick ball invaluable. However, the man of the match had to be Michael Lipman, his captaincy was questioned against Gloucester but he lead from the front today a truly courageous performance. 

Bath: Abendanon, Maddock, Crockett, Berne, Cuthbert, James, Claassens, Flatman, Mears, Stevens, Harrison, Short, Hooper, Lipman, Faamatuainu.
Replacements: Fuimaono-Sapolu for Crockett (73), Stephenson for Cuthbert (75), Bemand for Claassens (75), Barnes for Flatman (40), Dixon for Mears (57), Bell for Stevens (57), Scaysbrook for Faamatuainu (73).

Worcester: Latham, Pennell, Rasmussen, Tuitupou, Benjamin, Crichton, R. Powell, R. Powell, Mullan, Lutui, Tuamoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Horstmann, Wood, Talei.
Replacements: B. Jones for R. Powell (67), B. Jones for R. Powell (65), Fortey for Lutui (55), Horsman for Tuamoepeau (55), Kitchener for Rawlinson (57), Cox for Wood (67).
Not Used: Carlisle, Fellows.

Att: 10,600

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