Staunton heroics in vain
Jeremy Staunton scored all Leicester's points but missed a last minute penalty as the Tigers lost 26-25 at Bath.
Last Updated: 01/10/11 6:26pm
Jeremy Staunton scored all Leicester's points but missed a last minute penalty as the Tigers lost 26-25 in the Aviva Premiership at Bath.
The Irishman had been un-erring in his accuracy throughout the afternoon, kicking six penalties from as many attempts after converting his own seventh minute try.
But his late miss meant Bath's 19-year-old Academy graduate Tom Heathcote stole the limelight, landing a touchline conversion and two late penalties after replacing Sam Vesty at half-time.
The Tigers, who lost by 25 points to Saracens last week, welcomed back Geoff Parling while there were also first starts of the season for James Grindal and Staunton at half-back.
But it was former Leicester favourite Vesty who gave the hosts an early lead to capitalise on good pressure, but he then gifted the visitors what proved to be their only try when Staunton intercepted near halfway and galloped to the line.
Vesty and Staunton traded penalties before the Tigers' stand-off gave his side a 13-6 lead after Dave Attwood was penalised following a Billy Twelvetrees break.
Momentum
Leicester were dominating and when Steve Mafi was hauled down close to the line another penalty followed with Staunton making it a first-half hat-trick.
But the hosts came back into it as the half drew to a close, winger Tom Biggs making a slashing break to create momentum for Bath's first try, Attwood eventually diving over under the posts with a dazed Vesty adding the two before retiring.
Tigers led 16-13 at the interval but Staunton edged them further ahead five minutes in the second half and then made the lead nine points on 54.
Once again it was Biggs who dragged his side back into the match, bursting through the defence before the hour mark before a neat offload from prop Kane Pamla-Newport put Matthew Carraro in at the corner.
Heathcote promptly cut the lead to just two points with the extras and was on the mark with a penalty in the 70th minute, although the lead was brief as Staunton responded with his sixth at the other end.
The closing five minutes were dramatic as Heathcote saw a simple penalty come back off an upright but the hosts kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Julian Salvi was penalised in front of the posts - the teenager making no mistake this time.
More drama followed as Bath were penalised at the scrum on halfway and Simon Taylor inexplicably prevented Grindal from playing the ball - the referee marching play forward 10 yards allowing Staunton a realistic shot at goal, only for him to miss for the first time all day.
