Bath Rugby 24-22 Leicester Tigers result – Thomas du Toit scores historic hat-trick to clinch home play-off in Gallagher PREM

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.

After scoring a hat-trick of tries Thomas du Toit paid tribute to Leicester Tigers, who they could still meet in the play-off final in two weeks time.

”Leicester Tigers are just a formidable side.

”They've got an unbelievable scrum, brilliant players, and they are rock hard. They play such a physical game, and it's amazing to measure yourself up against a team like that.”

About his hat-trick: ”It was brilliant. We were joking before, the closest I've come to a hat-trick was scoring three games in a row.”

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Next weekend will see Leicester head to Northampton for an East Midlands derby on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Bath will host Exeter on Saturday.

The Rec celebrates as Bath hold on to secure a home semi-final.

The Leicester pressure eventually tells and the ball comes out wide for Pearson who turns under pressure to dot the ball down. However, the conversion hits the posts.

The referee have enough of Bath conceding fouls on their own line. It’s Cokanasiga who is punished for an off-side foul.

The visitors win a penalty and Bailey sends a lovely kick into touch five metres from the try-line. It’s going to be a huge ending.

Meanwhile, Du Toit makes way.

Molony comes on for Ewels; Reid on for Barbeary; also Tuipulotu is on for Frost; Bayliss off for Richards

Tigers profit from a line-out and drive but are held up a metre short. Clare gathers the loose ball and plays it out wide for Wand.

However, De Glanville is across quickly to deny him a certain try.

Bath -  Van Wyk on for Obano

Leicester -  Van der Flier on for Smith

Bath had another opportunity to score from a line-out. However, the ball was over-thrown and the Tigers won a scrum.

Bath also make their first change as Lawrence is replaced by Redpath

Clare on for Blamire; Hamer-Webb off for Perese 

Bath thought they were in for a decisive try in this clash. However, there were two balls on the pitch and a Tigers player receiving treatment.

The two powerful front rows have made life difficult for referee Ian Tempest. ‘It’s a mess’ he replies as the ball is stuck in the middle of a tackle.

Watson comes on for Cracknell

A high kick deep into the Bath 22 is almost gathered by Bailey. However, the full-back fails to gather the ball which deflects off his hands and head. Tigers reflect on a missed opportunity.

Bath eventually find a way through and it’s Du Toit who uses all of his muscle to ground the ball on the line. The Tigers did everything to try and stop him grounding the ball. Carreras adds the extras.

Chessum conceded a foul for a high tackle allowing Bath to kick deep for a line-out.

Barbeary and Obano join together and drive to within a metre. The Tigers defend resiliently but concede two fouls resulting in a tap penalty.

Tuipulotu drives for the line as bodies crowd the ball.