Higgins leads the way as Bath win

Full-time: Worcester 17 Bath 34. Andrew Higgins grabbed a hat-trick of tries against his former club as Bath clinched their maiden Guinness Premiership victory since the beginning of October this afternoon, writes Matt Cain.

The former England Under-21, who started his career at Sixways before moving to Bristol in 2001, ensured the visitors returned to the West Country with a try bonus point that consolidates the club's top-four position.

Fly-half Butch James completed the victory with a touchline conversion to Higgins' second-half injury-time try to finish the match with a 100 per cent kicking record with two penalties and four conversions.

Higgins added his second try four minutes after half-time, James sending the winger over after a long pass and following a good start to the second half by the visitors. James converted.

Worcester sent on Gloucester fly-half Willie Walker on 57 minutes and the unfamiliarity in the Worcester midfield played to Bath's advantage.

Following a line-out, centre Shontayne Hape skipped through a couple of weak tackles before drawing Latham to send wing Joe Maddock over the whitewash. James converted for Bath to enjoy a 10-point lead.

Walker kept Worcester in touch with a penalty but that effort was cancelled out when James made the Warriors pay for handling on the floor underneath their own posts.

Walker should have kicked the hosts within seven points of Bath on 74 minutes but his penalty from a straightforward position went wide.

With the countdown clock on zero, Bath completed the victory with the backs producing good hands before Higgins crashed through a tackle to score.