Aviva Premiership: Bath move up to second with professional 21-6 win at Worcester
Bath moved up to joint-second in the Aviva Premiership and inflicted more woe on Worcester with a 21-6 win at Sixways.
Last Updated: 01/11/13 10:08pm
Tries in either half from Anthony Perenise and Horacio Agulla helped Bath record their fifth win in seven games, while winless Worcester remain rooted to the foot of the table and have now lost 12 league games on the bounce.
Heavy rain at Sixways contributed to numerous handling errors from both sides and Bath fly-half George Ford profited with three early penalties for the visitors.
Worcester gradually found their feet and only a brilliant piece of defending from highly-rated full-back Anthony Watson on the try-line denied Dean Hammond an opening try of the match on 26 minutes.
Buoyed by that defensive effort, Bath then pounced at the other end through Perenise after Ford's fantastic long kick had found touch.
Play recycled
Matt Garvey robbed the line-out and when play was recycled, Peter Stringer popped the ball to New Zealander Perenise, who powered past two would-be tacklers to touch down.
Ford continued his fine night with the conversion but Paul Warwick did at least give the home fans some cheer with a penalty two minutes before the interval.
Worcester came out with more purpose after the break and a second Warwick penalty made the score 16-3 to Bath.
Warwick missed the opportunity to make further inroads when he scuffed his next effort three minutes later.
The wet conditions continued to cause errors but kicking was also becoming difficult, even for Ford, who missed for the first time on 50 minutes.
But the deciding moment came on the hour mark when, against the run of play, Argentinian back Agulla pinched the ball on the Worcester 22 and ghosted in for a killer score.
Bath were comfortable thereafter and Worcester were forced to play the remaining seven minutes with 14 men after Chris Jones was sent to the sin-bin.
