Full-time: Bath 45 Bristol 8. Six-try Bath hammered another nail into Bristol's Guinness Premiership coffin with a ruthless attacking display at the Rec.

Joe Maddock crossed twice, as did Alex Crockett, while referee Dave Rose awarded a penalty and Daniel Browne also went over.

Bath led 17-8 at the break, but took full control in the second half, displaying their superior cutting edge and tempo to put Bristol away in clinical fashion.

Lee Robinson's first-half try had given Bristol hope – and they even led at one point – but they were unable to cope with their rampant neighbours.

Bath took a sixth-minute lead through Maddock on his 100th appearance for the club.

He took Butch James' clever pass 40 metres out, weaved his way between Nathan Budgett, Nathan Brew and Tom Arscott, and raced in to score under the posts, giving James a simple conversion for 7-0.

Bristol's spirit was not crushed, though, and Brew's fierce tackle on Andrew Higgins denied the hosts a second try.

And Bristol got themselves on the scoresheet when Shaun Perry, clearly spotting Bath's defence was out of formation, kicked ahead for Robinson, who sprinted to the line to make it 7-5.

Bristol, who had to throw rookie hooker Ollie Hayes on for the injured David Blaney, then took a shock lead when Ed Barnes landed a penalty following a Bath offside.

James soon restored Bath's lead with a penalty of his own, before Bath finally began to take control of the contest.

Another sweeping move finished with Higgins slipping through the Bristol defence, before being tackled by Perry a metre short of the line. Support arrived, though, and Maddock was able to ground the ball for his second try, aided by good work from his forwards. James' conversion from the touchline saw Bath into a 17-8 half-time lead.

After the break, Barnes missed a penalty which would have brought Bristol back to within six points, before Crockett went over for Bath's third try.

Robinson knocked on for the visitors, Bath attacked through their forwards, before Scott Bemand and James combined, the fly-half chipping through for Crockett to score in the corner. James again nailed a touchline conversion to see Bath into a 24-8 lead.

Bristol's task became even more difficult when replacement scrum-half Haydn Thomas was yellow-carded only three minutes after entering the field. He infringed twice during the same Bath attack, and was sent to the sin-bin for tackling off his feet.

Bath took the scrum, Bristol infringed, Bath took another scrum, Bristol infringed again – and referee Dave Rose awarded a penalty try. James' fourth successful conversion from four gave Bath a 31-8 advantage.

Bath's fifth try was not long in coming. Brew coughed up possession under pressure in midfield, Bath countered at pace and James Scaysbrook's wide pass put Browne clear.

The replacement No 8 cut between Luke Arscott and Hayes to get to the line, allowing James a routine shot to make it 38-8 with the conversion.

With Bristol demoralised, Bath picked their lines to run in a sixth try.

Nick Abendanon broke into the Bristol half and timed his pass to Crockett perfectly, sending his skipper away to score his second try of the match. James' conversion saw Bath into a 45-8 lead.

Bath: J Maddock; A Higgins (N Abendanon 54), A Crockett (capt), S Hape (S Berne 60), M Banahan (M Baxter 64); B James, S Bemand; D Barnes, R Hawkins (M Lilley 74), D Bell (P Ion 60), S Hooper, P Short, A Beattie, J Scaysbrook (C Goodman 69), J Fa'amatuainu (D Browne 47).

Scorers: Tries – Maddock (2), Crockett (2), penalty, Browne. Cons – James (6). Pen – James.

Bristol: T Arscott; L Robinson, Neil Brew, L Eves (L Arscott 60), Nathan Brew; E Barnes (C Ashwin 72), S Perry (H Thomas 50); M Irish, D Blaney (O Hayes 19), D Crompton (W Thompson 73), R Winters, N Budgett (D Attwood 68), R Pennycook (A To'oala 60), J El Abd (capt), D Ward-Smith.

Scorers: Try – Robinson. Pen – Barnes.

Sin-binned: Thomas (53-66, off his feet at tackle); Robinson (80, dangerous tackle).

Ref: D Rose. Att: 10,600.