Bath snatch dubious win

London Irish 22 Bath 24

The Bath faithful are going to take some convincing that this remarkable result had nothing to do with the director of rugby Jack Rowell's magical touch. The Big Man is back at his old stamping ground and his very presence would appear to be enough to drive a raw Bath team to a dramatic victory – their first away from home since they beat Rotherham the season before last.

Overall it was a poor game. Roy Maybank, the newest recruit to the ranks of the professional referees, did not excel. Indeed, there was enough hot air emanating from his whistle to have kept a balloon afloat over the Madejski Stadium and afterwards a puzzled Conor O'Shea, the London Irish director of rugby, pronounced himself confused at the official's time-keeping.

"We asked the fourth official in the 77th minute how long was left and he said it would be over after 83 minutes. But there was another five minutes of injury time from somewhere in those final six minutes and we will be asking where they came from." So although Irish thought Barry Everitt's drop goal after 83 minutes 31 seconds, was the winning kick, in fact play continued for the best part of five more minutes. And with 87:31 showing up on the stadium's digital clock Bath's Ollie Barkley saw his 48-metre kick – the 29th penalty awarded by the referee – from the right-hand touchline sail over the bar to earn the West Country side an unexpected, and undeserved victory.

Undeserved because it was only thanks to Barkley's left foot and Mr Maybank's propensity for blowing hot and catching London Irish cold that Bath were able to stay in this match. Any and all creativity was copyright of the Exiles. What threats were posed out wide came from the green-shirted Irish crew. But the general standard of play was at best low, at worst downright appalling. The errors by both sides were numerous and Bath's discipline was questionable.

But the pluses were that this was a gutsy performance by a youthful side, which, for various reasons, was without 11 senior players. And Barkley's goal-kicking was near-immaculate, landing seven out of eight kicks. Everitt on the other hand had a nightmare. Last season's leading bootman with 333 points in the Premiership failed with an incredible five attempts at goal.

London Irish: Try penalty try; Conversion: Everitt; Penalties: Everitt 4; Drop Goal: Everitt.

Bath: Penalties: Barkley 7; Drop Goal: Malone.

London Irish: M Horak; P Sackey, G Appleford, R Hoadley, P Rossouw; B Everitt, D Edwards; N Hatley (M Worsley, 48), N Drotske (R Kirke, 47), S Halford (R Hardwick, 47), R Strudwick (capt), B Casey, P Gustard, C Sheasby, K Dawson (D Dawson, 63).

Bath: O Barkley; R Thirlby, K Maggs, A Crockett, T Voyce; C Malone, R Blake; D Barnes (S Emms, h-t), J Humphries (L Mears, 63), A Galasso (J Mallett, 66), A Beattie, D Grewcock (capt), G Thomas (L Mears, 41-44), N Thomas, A Vander.

Referee: R Maybank (Orpington).