Guy Pepper sinks sloppy Leicester as Bath underline task facing Cheika

09/29/2024 11:35 AM

• Leicester 15-20 Bath
• Ollie Hassell-Collins drops ball while touching down

Michael Cheika was given a reminder of the size of the task ahead as his Leicester side paid a heavy price for their mistakes on his first home match in charge. No error was more costly than that of Ollie Hassell-Collins, who dropped the ball over the tryline, on an afternoon when Bath displayed admirable grit for a first win on Tigers turf in four years.

There was plenty of spirit and endeavour from Leicester, a strong set piece and a welcome first appearance of the year for Anthony Watson. They were combative in the first half, buoyed up by their last-gasp win against Exeter last time out but the skill level and execution were lacking as the same problems they had last season resurfaced. Bath, for whom Ollie Lawrence was outstanding, had that extra bit of polish and it told.