Leeds prove too strong for struggling Bath

LEEDS secured an invaluable 25-14 win over fellow strugglers Bath yesterday as the leading four clubs all won their clashes to cement their position atop the English Premiership.

Chris Bell’s second-minute try helped Leeds establish a 16-6 interval lead against a spirited Bath side who reduced their arrears to two points after the break.

But Leeds ultimately proved too strong and recorded only their third league victory of the season to move within two points of Brian Ashton’s men.

League leaders Sale turned in a below-par performance but offered just enough to overcome an energetic Bristol side.

Charlie Hodgson kicked 26 points as the home side battled to a 31-29 win.

Bristol racked up tries through Shaun Perry, Brian Lima and Tommy Hayes, but a late response from scrum-half Silio Maartens saw Sale home.

Paul Sackey produced two pieces of clinical finishing to light up a workmanlike 21-6 win for second-placed Wasps over Newcastle.

The winger scored tries two minutes into the first half and five minutes into the second as the English champions kept up the pressure on the leaders.

Penalties from Mark Van Gisbergen and Jeremy Staunton helped build a comfortable lead and a late Matt Dawson try killed off any chance of a fightback from lacklustre Newcastle, whose only reply was a pair of Matt Burke penalties in the first-half.

Andy Goode staged a goalkicking exhibition as Leicester claimed only their second away win of the season in the league to stay firmly in title play-off contention.

The fly-half booted 23 points from seven penalties and a conversion of full-back Sam Vesty’s 28th-minute try to subdue an Irish outfit high on endeavour, but lacking in execution.

Irish though, could have snatched a draw deep into injury-time at the Madejski Stadium, but a long-range Barry Everitt penalty landed just short of the target.

Leicester remain third in the Premiership, and they had the added bonus of their England scrum-half Harry Ellis returning off the substitutes’ bench for his first appearance since undergoing knee surgery three weeks ago.

Gloucester ground out an uninspiring 19-9 victory over Saracens to consolidate their position in the top four of the table.

Peter Richards’ converted try at the end of a dreadful first half proved the difference as the game degenerated into a kicking duel.

Gloucester fly-half Ludovic Mercier finished with 14 points to Glen Jackson’s nine from three second-half penalties.

In Saturday’s match, Northampton grabbed a vital 15-11 victory at Sixways but Worcester can feel hard done by after being denied a last-gasp try.

Aisea Havili was sent flying down the right wing from 25 metres after a long pass from Shane Drahm, only for the referee to call it back for a contentious forward pass.

England stars Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson crossed for Northampton tries with Kai Horstmann replying for the home side.