Bath survive late Leicester scare to win Premiership final

LONDON :Bath ended their 29-year English title drought when they survived a late surge by old rivals Leicester to triumph 23-21 in a gripping Premiership final and complete a memorable trophy treble at Twickenham on Saturday.

Tries by Thomas du Toit and Max Ojomoh, after an outrageous play by flyhalf Finn Russell, gave Bath a healthy lead in the second half that looked set to underline their dominance of a campaign in which they finished the regular season 11 points clear of Leicester.

Leicester, however, seeking a record-extending 12th title, hit back with tries by Solomone Kata and Emeka Ilione either side of a Russell penalty to set up a nail-biting finale.

Bath, who lost a similarly close game to Northampton a year ago, held out, though, to complete a memorable treble after they also lifted the Premiership Cup and European Challenge Cup having not won a domestic trophy since their 1996 league and cup double.