Pressure is on Bath Rugby as backs waste chances

Australian forward Justin Harrison claimed referee Dave Pearson was clueless about officiating the scrum as a wasteful Bath Rugby slumped to a defeat that has seriously dented their title hopes.

Butch James missed three from four penalty attempts and the backs spurned a series of gilt-edged opportunities as Harlequins punished their host's lack of cutting edge.

Harlequins' multicoloured jugernaught of a pack proved the difference, earning them a penalty try on 29 minutes with former Bath man Chris Malone adding the extras as well as three penalties.

A sharp drop goal from England scrum-half Danny Care wrapped up the win.

The loss means Bath are under huge pressure to win their remaining two games if they are to give themselves a chance of being involved in the Guinness Premiership final on May 16.

Just last week Bath's forwards had destroyed the Wasps pack to earn a 22-14 victory but on Saturday they creaked and groaned under a sustained assault from the London men.

But Harrison refused to concede that the Bath forwards were found wanting.

"I would not say we were poor in the scrum," he said. "The referee does not have any idea about the scrum. You don't go from a dominant scrum against Wasps to a poor scrum in two days.

"They got a penalty try from two walkarounds (turning the scrum) but when they did that to us on their line we didn't get anything.

"But it won't be hard to bounce back from this at all. We have a Heineken Cup quarter-final which is hugely motivating. The Guinness Premiership was always going to be a tight competition and you have to produce good form both home and away.

"We just have to prepare physically and mentally for the next challenges."

Bath started brightly enough with former Bradford bull Shontayne Hape stepping inside his man and then handing off another would be tackler to launch an attack.

But the move broke down and Butch James horribly miscued the resulting penalty – a sign of things to come.

When Bath did have possession they were marshalled back and forth across the pitch and when they did find a way through they were turned over or spilled possession.

Winger Matt Banahan and Jonny Faamatuainu were probably the worst offenders but few of the Bath players can be absolved from blame.

Bath's visitors were far more greedy when it came to taking their chances.

Malone had already popped over a penalty on seven minutes after his forwards ominously squeezed the life out of Bath under their posts when England winger Ugo Monye dramatically threw himself full stretch to intercept a pass near his own line.

This remarkable athleticism resulted in David Strettle sparking a move that saw Banahan having to scramble back at his end of the pitch to stop De Wet Barry scoring.

The sparkling move seemed to be the catalyst for Harlequin's and the games only try.

The visitors were awarded a scrum near Bath's line and the Harlequin effort saw Bath backpedaling at some rate. Warnings followed and referee Mr Pearson lost patience and went under the posts for a penalty try. Malone converted and Harlequins led 10-0 on 29 minutes.

James landed his one and only penalty just before the break but missed one just after the players returned. Malone made no such mistake on 48 minutes and Harlequins led 13-3.

Harlequins prop Mike Ross was sent to the sin bin for using hands on the floor after Bath's best period of sustained pressure but amazingly, despite being a man down, Harlequins took a five yard scrum against the head and cleared the danger.

Perhaps less unbelievably James missed another straightforward penalty on 57 minutes allowing their visitors off the hook again.

And Harlequins inevitably punished Bath's wastefulness when on 67 minutes Danny Care slotted a drop goal to give Harlequins a 16-3 lead. Malone had the last word when James was penalised for failing to roll away from a ruck near his line and the ex Bath man landed the kick for a 19-3 victory.

Bath Rugby: N Abendanon, J Maddock, A Crockett (Capt) (S Berne 67), S Hape, M Banahan (A Higgins 67), B James, S Bemand (M Baxter 75), D Barnes, L Mears (R Hawkins 75), D Bell (A Jarvis 46), J Harrison, S Hooper (P Short 55), A Beattie, J Scaysbrook, J Faamatuainu (C Goodman 65).

Scorer – Pen: James.

Harlequins: M Brown (W Luveniyli 75), D Strettle, G Tiesi, D Barry, U Monye (T Williams 67), C Malone, D Care, C Jones, G Botha (T Fuga 75), M Ross, J Percival (J Evans 56), G Robson, C Robshaw, N McMillan (T Guest 65), N Easter. Subs not used: A Gomarsall, M Lambert.

Scorers – Tries: Penalty, Cons: Malone. Pens: Malone 3. Drop goal: Care.

Yellow Card: Mike Ross, 53 minutes (hands on the floor)

Ref: D Pearson. Att: 10,600.