DU TOIT HAT-TRICK SECURES BATH HOME PLAY-OFF
Bath secured themselves a home Gallager PREM play-off after a Thomas du Toit hat-trick helped them to a narrow 24-22 win against Leicester Tigers.
With it Du Toit is the first prop in history to score a Gallagher PREM hat-trick.
Bath came into the tie knowing that they needed to beat Tigers to have home advantage in next week’s play-off semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Tigers came to upset the Rec and secure a home play-off for themselves. The East Midlands side got off to the perfect start when Orlando Bailey scored a third minute try against his former side.
However, Bath were clinical inside their opponent’s 22-metre area with Du Toit powering through twice inside the opening 13 minutes to give the home side the lead.
Winger Joe Cokanasiga then increased the home side’s lead to seven points after stepping inside a covering defender.
Missed conversions by Bath allowed the Tigers to stay in the game and a spell of pressure late in the first half resulted in Jack van Poortvliet scoring an excellent individual effort to draw level at 17-17 into the break.
Defending champions Bath were relentless against their opposition’s defence and Du Toit found his way through to clinch an important bonus point fourth try.
With time running out Leicester mounted a final challenge and despite George Pearson scoring out wide, James O’Connor’s conversion hit the post to deny Tigers a draw.
The result dropped Leicester down to fourth in the final table and they face a trip to Northampton Saints next Friday. Meanwhile, the win secured Bath second and they host Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
Image credit: Getty Images