Tom Dunn shines on record-breaking appearance as Bath crush Leicester

It could yet be that these two teams will meet again in this season’s Premiership final at Twickenham. If so Leicester will have to look for some different solutions. This meeting of the leagues’s top two was compared to a “heavyweight boxing clash” by Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, and even the ability of Leicester’s defence to soak up a ton of punishment was not enough in the end.

Bath emerged victorious on a glorious early summer evening, helped by a memorable try for Tom Dunn, setting a new club record for the most Premiership appearances – 184 – in the famous blue, black and white striped jersey. If the one-handed offload from Finn Russell was not eye-catching enough, the hooker’s extravagant dummy and subsequent 20-metre sprint to the line were real collector’s items.

Friday’s Challenge Cup final against Lyon in Cardiff is now Bath’s next target and, aside from a limping Cam Redpath, they have managed to sidestep serious injury to their star men. Maintain their momentum for another month and this really could be a special season, with Russell’s quality and their enviable bench resources once again conspicuous here.

Leicester were also denied a losing bonus point and, for all their bristling competitiveness, were unable to muster a single point in the second half. The Tigers, though, still have a home game against bottom-placed Newcastle to play and it remains all but certain they will have a home semi-final in next month’s playoffs.

Until the final quarter, it made for a thoroughly absorbing contest. Leicester, under the soon-to-depart Michael Cheika, have been boxing clever in recent weeks and, for the most part, the Tigers’ ability to keep their opponents well marshalled in midfield made them tricky opponents.

It was a real boost for Bath, then, when they enjoyed a start to match the perfect backdrop. Ben Spencer always has a keen eye for a gap but even he must have been surprised at the space that suddenly opened up as he ran 35 metres direct from a lineout to score in the right corner.

Beneath a cloudless blue sky, the Tigers also had to cope with an early visit to the sin-bin for their England forward Ollie Chessum after a high challenge on Will Muir that, on other days, might have been a red card. They remain a resilient bunch, though, and even with 14 men they were anything but cowed.

With advantage being played a lovely chip over the top from Jack van Poortvliet was plucked out of the air by a soaring Joe Woodward who also did well to dot the ball down. The lead proved only fleeting, Bath rumbling over in the shape of Beno Obano with Chessum still off the pitch.

With Dunn also shown a yellow card the momentum soon swung again. Some home fans felt Freddie Steward’s long scoring pass may have drifted forwards but there was absolutely no doubt about Adam Radwan’s flying finish in the corner.

Radwan would have had a second almost immediately but for an incredible cover tackle from the long-striding Ted Hill, enjoying another fine game. It was also Hill who burst clear at the other end to relieve a lengthy period of pressure and set up the position from which Russell put Quinn Roux over for Bath’s third try of the afternoon.

It gave the hosts a four-point half-time lead that, given Bath’s bench depth, boded well for the hosts. So it proved, a delighted Dunn bringing the house down with his try, Will Stuart adding a fifth and further tries for Joe Cokanasiga and Will Butt sealing the win. Bath are not champions yet but here was another powerful second-half statement of intent.