Leicester Tigers 35-22 Bath Rugby – The hosts ran out impressive winners in a Gallagher Premiership rugby clash.

Four first-half tries helped Leicester to a 13-point victory over arch-rivals Bath in their New Year's Eve clash at Welford Road.

The underpowered visitors were left dreaming when Louis Schröder intercepted a Handre Pollard pass and ran over half the field to put them in front.

From this point, Bath and Pollard's fortunes went in the opposite direction, as the Leicester number 10 was perfect from five changes and the away side didn't score another try until the 74th minute.

The main source of Bath's woes was conceding penalties and then being unable to break the Tigers' drives from line-outs and quick rucks.

Matt Rogerson and James Cronin both dove over from close range, with Mike Brown in between delighting to run a few meters down the wing for the second.

Gerrit van Wells was shown a yellow card, a precursor to Krohn's effort, and George Martin followed shortly after, taking three defenders with him.

A penalty on the stroke of half-time reduced the lead and allowed Bath to come back in the second half.

However, after two questionable calls, the Tigers were awarded a penalty try four minutes from time and Jaco Gotze was also shown a yellow card, effectively ending the match.

Second-timer Louie Hennessy scored a consolation try after a good run and offload, while Max Ojomo and Evan Richards put a fine reflection on Bath's scoreline after 80 minutes.

Ojomo, Gallagher and GJ van Wells helped Harlequins beat Harlequins by eight points two days before Christmas.

With Gloucester playing next Sunday, it was decided that the game would be a non-priority match in the coming weeks against Racing 92 and Toulouse in the European Champions Cup.

Given the occasion, the sellout crowd, the history of the tournament and the national attention, it seems a shame.

Realistically some would complain about winning two games in the continental competition but Austin Healy is not sure it is the best option.

„The Bath coaches decided a long time ago to play a second-string side here and see if it helps them, maybe to keep the players fresh,” Healy told TNT Sports.

„But wouldn't it have been nice for their first-choice team to come here and put down a winning marker at Welford Road, when they come into those high-pressure games, we don't know how good this first-choice Bath team is at the moment. They are Championship contenders yes, but they are any Have they played tough knockout type games?No.

„This would have been the closest they could have gotten.”

Leicester number eight entertained the home crowd. In total he made 81 yards on 14 carries, beating four defenders and making seven tackles. Bath's penalties, Pollard's accurate kicking and Locks' winning line-out ball were key to victory, but Wise's powerful runs ensured Bath were always on the back foot.

Leicester: Stewart 6, Simmons 7, Kelly 6, Kata 8, Brown 7, Pollard 8, Whiteley 7; Cronin 7, Montoya 8, Hayes 7, Martin 8, Sesam 8, Rogerson 7, Refel 7, Wise 8*.

Subs: Theobald-Thomas 7, Van Wyk 6, Hurd 6, Wells 6, Hatherell 6, Cracknell 6, Powell 6, Shilcock 6.

Bath: Harris 6, De Clanville 6, Ojomoh 7, Budd 6, Gallagher 6, Bailey 6, Schroeder 6; Showman 7, Fava 6, Stewart 6, Roux 7, McNally 7, Van Wells 6, Coetzee 5, Clote 6.

Subs: Stewart 6, Du Toit 6, Jonker 6, Richards 7, Green 6, Carr-Smith 6, Hennessy 7, Owen 6.

Try a 4' shower (Schrueder)! Schroeder ran 60 meters to the Leicester goalline before diving to intercept Pollard's pass.

14' Try for Leicester (Rogerson)! The Tigers drove from the line to the top of the line, then Rogerson dove over the line.

24' Try for Leicester (Brown)! Makeshift winger Mike Brown runs ten meters down the wing after being fed by Whiteley after a quick ruck.

32' Try for Leicester (Cronin)! Propp took the ball a yard from the path line and Dove over after Kata's run brought them close.

35' Try for Leicester (Martin)! It is becoming a byway. Leicester take advantage of the extra man. Another penalty gave the Tigers the chance to drive from a line out and a quick ruck found Martin who took three defenders with him over the line.

44' penalty attempt for Leicester! A nasty reboot from the bathroom. Again Leicester wins the lineout and drives towards the line. A fine is imposed for unlawfully dropping a stone in a bath.

74' Try Bath (Ojomoh)! At last they score and this time Ojomo drives things right to feed Hennessy who scores under the posts for his second of the game.

Try the 80' Bath (Richards)! After a penalty left them meters from the line, Evan Richards dived to spark a needless melee.#

• 8 – Leicester's leading stories stretch the match to eight wins – 32 to 24.