Rugby Brilliant Bath survive tense finish to secure Premiership crown

BATH sealed an historic treble at Twickenham after battling through the blazing heat to secure a 23-21 Gallagher Premiership final victory over Leicester at Allianz Stadium.

- Rachel STEINBERG

Their tries came from Thomas du Toit and Max Ojomoh on a brilliant afternoon for Scotland’s Finn Russell, who kicked three penalties and two conversions.

Jack van Poortvliet opened the scoring with a try for underdogs Leicester, while tries from Solomone Kata and Emeka Ilione - the latter with less than five minutes remaining - dialled up the drama. Handre Pollard added three conversions but missed a penalty.

The Tigers twice had men sent to the sin-bin - departing captain Julian Montoya late the first half, while it was not an ideal send-off for the retiring Dan Cole, who saw yellow late in the second.

Johann Van Graan’s side ended the club's 17-year trophy drought earlier in the campaign by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup, before landing the European Challenge Cup last month with victory over Lyon in Cardiff.

Leicester were unchanged from their Sale semi-final triumph, while Van Graan made two changes for Bath, with Miles Reid replacing Alfie Barbeary at No 8 and du Toit coming into the front row.