Resurgent Bath beat Warriors in Aviva Premiership
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 13/02/16 6:43pm
Bath fought back from 11 points down to record a morale-boosting 16-14 Aviva Premiership victory over Worcester at Sixways.
Lethargic Bath deservedly trailed after Cooper Vuna and Donncha O'Callaghan tries, which were both converted by Tom Heathcote.
However, the second-half introduction of replacement scrum-half Jonathan Evans provided fresh impetus.
Evans scored Bath's only try and Tom Homer converted - adding to his three penalties - as the visitors squeezed home.
Flanker Carl Kirwan made his top-flight debut for Worcester with backs Tom Heathcote and Andy Symons both recalled after last week's defeat at London Irish.
Fijian lock Tevita Cavubati was an absentee for the hosts after picking up a nine-week ban for biting an opponent.
For Bath, flanker Guy Mercer made his 100th appearance for the club while Scotland Under-20 international Adam Hastings, son of former British Lion, Gavin, made his debut at fly-half.
England squad members Henry Thomas and Semesa Rokoduguni were also in the visitors' starting line-up.
Homer made no mistake with a penalty to give his side a seventh minute lead but six minutes later, Warriors responded with an excellent try.
A well-timed pass from Heathcote sent Wynand Olivier through a gap in the Bath defence before the centre fed Chris Pennell, who put Vuna in for the try. Heathcote converted.
Within minutes, the visitors suffered another blow when they lost prop Nick Auterac with an injury. He was replaced by Beno Obano.
After 24 minutes, Worcester extended their lead with another well created try. From a ruck in the visitors' 22, Luke Baldwin opted to use the blind side before good inter-passing from Gerrit-Jan Van-Velze and Olivier, put O'Callaghan over.
Heathcote converted from the touchline before Homer's second penalty cut the arrears but Bath's problems remained.
Seven minutes before the interval, lock Tom Ellis limped off to be replaced by Dominic Day but Bath remained in contention as the hosts coughed up penalties.
Worcester conceded nine in the first half, seven in their own territory but Bath could not take advantage and trailed 14-6 at the interval.
Within two minutes of the restart, Bath centre Max Clark was sin-binned for a sliding tackle on Bryce Heem but the home side were still giving away the majority of the penalties.
Val Rapava Ruskin was penalised at a maul but surprisingly Homer was off target with a straightforward kick, before Evans replaced the disappointing Niko Matawalu at scrum-half.
Within two minutes of his introduction, he created and scored Bath's first try. An excellent kick from him saw Rokoduguni beat Chris Pennell for the high ball and Evans came in on the end of the sweeping move to score. Homer converted.
Clark returned from the sin-bin before Heathcote missed a long range penalty. This left Worcester with a one-point advantage going into the final-quarter. However when they conceded another scrum penalty, Homer put his side back in front with 12-minutes remaining. Warriors' replacement, Ryan Mills and Heathcote had late chances to win the game but both missed kickable penalties.
