Bath 19 Chiefs 17

Bath  19

Exeter Chiefs 17

Mark Stevens at the Recreation Ground.

George Ford put the disappointment of England’s turgid Rugby World Cup campaign firmly behind him as his return to club colours helped Bath kick-off the new Aviva Premiership season with a narrow victory over Exeter Chiefs.

The England playmaker’s 14-point haul - including a penalty two minutes from time - proved the key difference in a tight affair at the Recreation Ground.

Ford edged out opposite number Gareth Steenson in the game’s key kicking duel and he was part and parcel of Bath’s one and only try, scored in the first half through skipper Stuart Hooper.

In reply, the Chiefs - who were given a whirlwind start when winger James Short scored a try inside 44 seconds on his debut - sadly failed to turn lengthy periods of pressure into points and were duly stung at the death by Ford and Co.

The defeat - Exeter’s sixth in as many league games in the Roman City - meant it was a disappointing outcome for Rob Baxter’s side, who had come into the game fresh from an unbeaten pre-season campaign, which included home and away victories over both Bath and Gloucester, Baxter resisted the opportunity of bringing back his World Cup stars for this seasonal opener.

Instead, the visitors paraded the same starting XV as that which had triumphed ijust a week earlier. Up front, prop Ben Moon ran out for his 100th league appearance, whilst behind Steenson was the fulcrum for the Exeter attacking arsenal.

Bath, on the other hand, wasted little time in restoring their World Cup contingent with England’s Ford, Anthony Watson, Rob Webber and Sam Burgess all included in their match-day 23.

Ford’s first action, however, was not one to remember as he was easily brushed aside by Short for Exeter’s opening try inside the opening minute.

Having lapped up turnover ball when Bath full-back Tom Homer spilled the ball deep inside the Exeter 22, the visitors cleverly worked the ball at pace from one side of the field to the other, gifting time and space to Ian Whitten, who drew in the cover before offloading to Short who did the rest.

The score went unconverted as Steenson fired his testing kick wide of the near post, whilst at the other end Ford made no mistake with his first shot at goal, reducing the arrears when he punished Moon for a scrum offence on seven minutes.

At the the next scrum, though, Moon gained instant revenge on England international Henry Thomas winning a penalty of his own that Steenson duly dispatched with ease.

Bath looked to summon a response of sorts as the first quarter drew to a close, but a combination of stout Exeter defence and sloppy hands from the home side thwarted their advances, before the Chiefs threatened again with a slick attack.

The forwards did the initial donkey work with some industrious work up front, but when it finally came out wide Messrs Dollman, Whitten and Hill worked in tandem, before the latter was finally penalised for holding on in the tackle.

At the other end, Bath threatened once more when Ford’s hanging kick was gobbled up by Watson in his aerial duel with Dollman, but as the England winger looked to tear clear towards the line, an outstanding cover tackle from Whitten brought him to the deck.

It was end-to-end stuff and when the Chiefs attacked again, this time through a rampaging run from Luke Cowan-Dickie, it took a plethora of home defenders to deny the talented hooker from claiming his first try of the season as he was held up on the home line.

Bath made the most of the let-off and four minutes before the break they stung the Chiefs with a try of their own, Ford and Watson the architects on this occasion, the former eventually feeding the ball to skipper Hooper, who was able to gallop in unopposed for the converted try.

Home joy proved short-lived, however, as on the stroke of half time, the Chiefs restored their lead when Steenson slotted his second penalty of the game, given after Matt Banahan had deliberately knocked down a pass from Chudley in front of his own posts.

HALF TIME BATH 10   EXETER CHIEFS 11

Despite having Banahan sat in the cooler for the start of the second half, it was Bath who made the brighter start on the resumption and they regained their slender lead just six minutes into the half when Ford slotted a second penalty of his own after Moon was penalised for not releasing at the tackle.

The Chiefs again summoned a rapid response as Whitten and replacement prop Alec Hepburn both went close with attacking raids behind enemy lines. Although thwarted, a third wave did bring reward when Bath infringed at the ruck.

With the opportunity to strike, Steenson made no mistake with his long-range kick, drilling his third successful penalty between the sticks on 52 minutes.

But no sooner had the Chiefs edged back in front, they conceded another untimely penalty - this time for going over the top - and there was Ford to punish them once more with a sweetly-struck effort from 30 metres out.

With penalties flying about everywhere, it was now the turn of the Chiefs to have another shot at goal after Bath was pinged for a ruck offence. This time, though, replacement Henry Slade (pictured) was unable to strike, his penalty from halfway just falling short of the intended target.

Undeterred, the Chiefs ploughed on in pursuit of points and yet more attacks saw them lay siege on the home line with some heavy bombardment from their forwards. Bath, it has to be said, did well to repel the threat, again denying their rivals on the line.

More penalties followed for the Chiefs as Bath fell foul of referee Tim Wigglesworth yet again, but Exeter declined kickable shots at goal, instead opting to go for the corner instead.

It was a bold move from skipper Steenson, whose actions were almost vindicated when Slade appeared to have crossed from a dart towards the line. However, subsequent TV replays showed the England man had in fact spilled the ball on the line and the chance came and went in a flash.

With replacements aplenty entering the fray, it was Exeter - who despite trailing - that looked the more threatening. More grunt up front again saw them position themselves deep inside the Bath 22, the fruits of which eventually saw Burgess yellow-carded and Steenson land his fourth penalty of the contest.

As both sides battered away at one another, it was Bath who regained the lead with just two minutes remaining when Ford helped himself to a fourth penalty after the Chiefs had strayed trying to defend their line from a five-metre, catch-and-drive.

Even then there was still time for Exeter to have one last throw of the dice. Piling forward in numbers they created the platform from which to strike, but sadly the drop-goal chance from Slade was wide of the mark and the moment was lost for the Chiefs.

Bath: T Homer; S Rokoduguni, M Banahan, K Eastmond (M Clark 62-67), A Watson; G Ford, C Cook (N Matawalu 47); N Auterac (M Lahiff 60), R Batty (R Webber 54), H Thomas (D Wilson 54); S Hooper (capt, G Mercer 67), D Attwood; M Garvey, A Faosiliva (S Burgess 47), L Houston. Replacement (not used): J Williams.

Try - Hooper; Conversion - Ford; Penalties - Ford (4)

Yellow Cards: Banahan, Burgess

Chiefs: P Dollman; M Jess, I Whitten, S Hill (H Slade 50), J Short; G Steenson (capt), W Chudley; B Moon (A Hepburn 47), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 54), A Brown (M Low 47); M Lees, D Welch; D Ewers (J Salvi 63), D Armand, T Waldrom. Replacements (not used): O Atkins, O Woodburn.

Try - Short; Penalties - Steenson (4)

Referee: T Wigglesworth

Attendance: 12,957