Bath 25 Worcester 22

Worcester were left pointing an accusing finger at referee David Rose as they narrowly failed to secure a first league victory over Bath. But in truth the Warriors had themselves to blame for losing out at The Rec.

There was little to play for with both sides safe but John Brain's side still had the incentive of achieving their highest placing in the top flight, In a topsy-turvy encounter, full of thrills and comical spills, they repeatedly took control of affairs before throwing it away again.

But in a cliff-hanger finale they were left to rue some late injustice as Jonny Hylton chased a ball through to score what would have looked like being the winning try with the last movement of the match.

The wing blitzed past a static Peter Short who, with little other option, opted for some blatant obstruction and shirt-tugging to stop a match-winning score.

But with fans waiting for the penalty try to be given, amazingly, referee Rose only awarded a five-metre scrum. Despite vehement appeals from Worcester skipper Pat Sanderson and his teammates, the try, and with it the win, had gone. Both teams played with ambition in an eight-try final-day rollercoaster but ultimately the fact that Premiership points machine Shane Drahm was sitting in the stand proved decisive for Worcester.

Replacement fly-half James Brown had a day to forget with the boot and Worcester paid the price for his woeful misses in such a tight encounter.

Worcester were always the more creative and threatening side and took the lead within two minutes when centre Thomas Lombard, on his final appearance before returning to France, crashed over.

They could have had a second three minutes later but the all-action Tom Harding, who impressed throughout with his workload, was hauled down by a last-ditch tackle by Andy Williams.

Bath looked rattled but Chris Malone cut the lead with a penalty from close range before Taufa'ao Filise touched down after a well-controlled catch and drive from a line-out on the half-hour.

Worcester, though, hit back to take a half-time lead as front-row terrier Mike Macdonald stole the ball in mid-field and Dale Rasmussen finished off some neat handling in the corner.

The second half was breathless stuff. Firstly, two tries in three second-half minutes seemed to knock the stuffing out of Worcester as Samoan No 8 Feaunati and livewire full-back Joe Mad-dock broke past some tiring tackles.

But back came Worcester as they launched a staggering comeback, Lombard finishing off a length-of-the-field break from Harding before the flanker grabbed a try he so richly deserved.

But Michael Stephenson's late effort - and more importantly referee Rose - ensured Worcester's only consolation for their endeavour was a bonus point. ..SUPL: