HARLEQUINS fly-half Marcus Smith endured a difficult day and boss Paul Gustard lamented his side's failure to control field position.
He said: “We didn't control territory and made too many mistakes in our own half. Our kicking game was poor whereas theirs was pretty spot-on.
“With Priestland and Burns, that's the experience of two international fly-halves and we've got two 20-year-old kids who are still learning the game.
“The team's hurting, I'm hurting. It's tough to lose when we didn't do things we said we would.” Ruaridh McConnochie was the try hero but Bath's forwards deserved credit after a dominant set-piece performance at scrum and lineout.
Lock Josh McNally said: “It's something we pride ourselves on. Mark Lilley and Luke Charteris are doing an unbelievable job with the forwards and we're knocking ten bells out of each other in the week to make sure we're in that place.
“Bath are putting a pack together that can win us games through our set-piece – we'll continue do that and hope to get even better.”
TEAMS
BATH: Homer 5 (Burns 58, 7), Rokoduguni 6, Willison 7, Matavesi 6 (Wright 74, 6), McConnochie 9, Priestland 7, Cook 6 (Chudley 55, 7), Boyce 7, Walker 7 (Dunn 56, 6), Judge 7, McNally 8, Stooke 7 (Williams 59, 6), Ellis 7 (Bayliss 67, 6), Louw (c) 7 (Ellis 78, 7), Mercer 8.
Not used: Noguera, Nixon
HARLEQUINS: Morris 6, Murley 5 (Herron 11, 6), Penny 6, Lasike 6, Ibitoye 7, Smith 5, Care 5, Garcia Botta 6 (Lambert 32, 6) 6, Baldwin 6, Kerrod 6, Young 6, Cavubati 6 (Lamb 71, 6), Chisholm 7, Robshaw (c) 6 (Evans 56, 6), Dombrandt 6 (Kunatani 71, 6)
Not used: Musk, Swainston, Saunders
REFEREE: Tom Foley
ATTENDANCE: 14,368
Star man
Ruaridh McConnochie – Bath
