Aviva Premiership: Bath 21-14 Worcester Warriors
By Press Association
Last Updated: 27/12/15 8:28pm
Bath earned a relieving victory when they beat Worcester 21-14 at the Recreation Ground on Sunday.
First-half tries from Ollie Devoto and wing Horacio Agulla built the victory for Bath, but Worcester ensured that the home side were forced to fight for what was their third win of the Premiership campaign.
Rhys Priestland kicked three penalties and a conversion, while Worcester replied through a Cooper Vuna try, two penalties from former Bath pivot Tom Heathcote, and a long-range strike from Ryan Mills.
Priestland, who was handed a start ahead of England fly-half George Ford, led his side to victory with good decision-making under pressure as Bath struggled to stamp their mark on the game.
Bath started the game by claiming a 10th-minute try after several phases inside Worcester's 22, and patient approach work resulted in Devoto crossing the whitewash.
Priestland's conversion made it 7-0, before the fly-half exchanged penalties with Heathcote.
Mills then slotted a penalty to cut the deficit to four points, which gave Worcester a chance to build, and they delivered with a try eight minutes before the break.
Bath were caught napping on the blindside of a scrum, and slick passing sent Vuna clear for a try that Heathcote failed to convert.
However Bath were able to score before half-time.A spell of possession deep inside Worcester's half saw Agulla receive the ball and finish under pressure as space ran out.
Referee Tom Foley awarded the try following confirmation from television match official Stuart Terheege, and Bath trooped off at the interval 15-11 ahead.
Priestland and Heathcote each kicked penalties early in the second period, and there was much more urgency after the break as Bath increased the tempo up-front.
Worcester remained firmly in contention, but Priestland slotted his third penalty 12 minutes from time, and Bath closed out the victory in front of the home faithful.
