Full time: Bristol 20 Bath 33: Butch James inspired Bath to their first win at the Memorial Stadium for 10 years when they beat arch-rivals Bristol in the Guinness Premiership opener today, writes Matt Cain.

The fly-half had spent the entire summer playing for South Africa in the Tri-Nations campaign and only returned to training on Wednesday.

But he landed seven kicks from seven attempts and created one of Bath's tries.

Bristol had their moments and opened the scoring but were no match up front and were caught out in defence at times.

Bath were forced to make two late changes after skipper Michael Lipman (head) and his vice-captain Alex Crockett were ruled out through injury. Scrum-half Michael Claassens led the side.

But Bristol were the first to strike on two minutes when blindside flanker Andrew Blowers crashed over from short range, Jarvis converting.

Bath's South Africa fly-half Butch James replied a penalty on 14 minutes after Bristol centre Junior Fatialofa high tackled Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu under his own posts.

The visitors were twice denied tries when Stuart Hooper then Matt Stevens were tackled into touch close to the corner flag but, on 17 minutes, wing Joe Maddock eased inside Kevin Maggs and Haydn Thomas to score from 45 metres out, James converting.

Jarvis levelled three minutes later but Maggs was caught out again on 33 minutes when James released Matt Banahan before Tom Cheeseman went over for the try. James added the extras.

But Bristol went into the dressing rooms on level terms thanks to what can be considered as a try of the season.

Wing David Lemi – who had scored only one try in 2008 – left Jonny Faamatuainu for dead before ghosting through three more Bath players.

He chipped over Banahan, the ball bounced kindly before he touched down despite Justin Harrison coming in with a last-ditch attempt. Jarvis converted.

James landed two early second half penalties to take Bath's lead to 23-17 before Jarvis replied with three points of his own.

But that was cancelled out by another James effort and Faamatuainu added the visitors' third try on 56 minutes, the ball going through seven pairs of hands before the Samoan raced away from Blowers. James converted.

Now 33-20 down, Bristol head coach Richard Hill sent on four players at the same time in a gamble to rescue the match.

It almost had a immediate effect with Bath wing Banahan knocking on when standing on his own try line after a Jarvis penalty had drifted wide.

But the closest they came to scoring another try was when Lemi was barged into touch by Maddock on 74 minutes.