Bok's hat-trick condemns Tigers to quarter-final with bitter rivals

Bath secured home advantage in the Gallagher PREM play-offs after beating Leicester 24-22 at a rainswept Recreation Ground.

The reigning PREM champions withstood a powerful Leicester challenge to nail down second place behind Northampton and will now host Exeter.

Tigers, meanwhile, face a testing trip to East Midlands rivals Northampton when the title race reaches its penultimate lap.

Bath had their South African prop Thomas du Toit to thank for putting them in the driving seat as he scored a hat-trick of tries, all from close range.

Wing Joe Cokanasiga also touched down, with fly-half Santi Carreras kicking two conversions, but Leicester went toe to toe for long periods through tries by Orlando Bailey, Jack van Poortvliet and George Pearson, while James O’Connor added two conversions and a penalty.

Bath, though, were not to be denied, staying firmly on course for a third successive Prem final appearance after losing to Northampton in 2024 and beating Leicester a year ago.

Leicester, eager to bounce back from a hefty defeat against Exeter last time out, went ahead after just four minutes when O’Connor capitalised on strong work by the pack to send Bailey over for a try against his former club.

O’Connor landed a wide-angled conversion, but Bath posted an equalising try from their first meaningful attack, with juggernaut forward Du Toit proving unstoppable with the line in his sights.

And the tighthead was at it again five minutes later, cashing in on a powerful Bath lineout drive to claim his second touchdown, before Carreras’ conversion opened up a 12-7 advantage.

An O’Connor penalty narrowed the deficit, but Bath were ruthless when they established a foothold inside Leicester’s 22.

And they struck with a third try seven minutes before half-time, moving possession wide before Cokanasiga gathered and showcased his strength by smashing through three defenders.

However, Leicester underlined their resilience by drawing level before the break, driving Bath backwards as their driving lineout clicked into gear, and Van Poortvliet touched down. O’Connor’s second successful conversion then tied it up at 17-17.

Tigers boss Geoff Parling switched Bailey from centre to fly-half for the second period, with O’Connor going off, and England international forward George Martin took over from lock Cameron Henderson.

The visitors, though, were immediately in defensive mode as Bath went through phase after phase deep inside Tigers’ 22 as they chased a bonus-point score.

And typically it was Du Toit who finally breached Leicester’s cover, completing his treble, with Carreras converting to restore a seven-point lead.

Leicester had their moments during the final quarter, yet the odd wrong option and spilled pass thwarted their efforts to post a win that would have seen them edge Bath for a home play-off, and Tigers took it to the wire courtesy of Pearson’s 78th-minute try after Cokanasiga was yellow-carded.

But they will not be daunted by an away appointment with Saints, a team they defeated 41-17 on May 9, albeit that game taking place at Leicester.