​Match report: Worcester Warriors 12 Bath Rugby 12

Bath Rugby's two-month wait for a Guinness Premiership win continues after they drew on their return to league duty at Sixways this evening.

A confident display from fly-half Ryan Davis helped steer Bath into scoring positions, but good covering tackles from Worcester stopped Danny Grewcock and Matt Carraro from crossing the tryline in the first and second half respectively.

Davis kicked four penalties for Bath with opposite number Willie Walker doing likewise for the hosts, but on balance it was Steve Meehan's men who should have returned home the happier after a solid display - the midfield defence particularly standing up to the examination inflicted by the Warriors.

Bath had the better of the opening exchanges despite the slippery surface, although winger Jack Cuthbert missed a penalty inside the first minute.

Both sides set out their intentions in a fast-paced start and it was the home side who took the lead on 10 minutes when Walker kicked a penalty after Bath were caught offside in front of their own posts.

Full-back Nick Abendanon and opposite number Chris Latham tested each other out with high balls under the floodlights, although the ball-in-hand game soon resumed, while at the scrum Aaron Jarvis gained the early upper hand over Callum Black.

Latham put up another high ball, but number eight Luke Watson – making his first start for the club - missed the catch and Warriors wing Miles Benjamin chased on, forcing Bath into conceding a penalty.

Opting to kick for touch, the hosts lost the ball from the ensuing maul and it was Bath who got the feed at the scrum, but when Watson knocked on from the pick up at the base, Worcester regained possession.

Referee Wayne Barnes then penalised Jarvis, but Walker's three-point effort bounced off the left-hand upright.

With the Warriors continuing to play the game in the Bath half, the visitors were eventually able to clear their lines when the hosts were penalised for holding on and a superb line break from centre Shontayne Hape was rewarded after Davis drew the sides level with a penalty from 30 metres out.

Bath then came close to adding a try after Gillies spilled the ball at a lineout and Bath attacked at pace but Grewcock, with the line at his mercy, dropped the ball and the chance went begging.

However, the visiting side kept up the pressure inside the Warriors' 22 and on 32 minutes Davis put them in front for the first time with another penalty after the hosts were penalised inside their 22.

The half-time break did little to abate Bath's hunger for the attacking game and they again went close to scoring a try after Worcester spilled the ball on the halfway line. Abendanon made an excellent break into the hosts' 22 and his pass to Carraro sent the Australian dancing down the wing, but Bath were again caught short of the line.

It was then Worcester's turn to threaten the Bath line when Michael Claassens’ kick was charged down after he took a pass from Watson, but Cuthbert scrambled back and saved a certain try with a tackle on centre Sam Tuitupou.

The home side then drew level against the run of play on 49 minutes when flanker Julian Salvi was penalised for obstruction on Latham after a kick ahead, Walker adding the three points.

There were worrying signs for Bath when impressive centre Ben Williams received lengthy treatment for an apparent head injury, but the youngster was soon on his feet as Meehan's side forced their way into the Warriors 22.

And another penalty at the scrum saw Davis add three points to regain the lead for Bath, but they were soon forced defend their line. Latham's probing kick over the top of the defence saw Davis forced to gather on the floor inside his own 22 as the visitors scrambled back to cover.

Walker then pulled his side level with another penalty after referee Barnes pinged the Bath scrum at a Warriors put in, but Davis again swung momentum back in Bath's favour with three more points of his own after Tuitupou's late hit on replacement Michael Stephenson earned the Warriors centre 10 minutes in the cooler.

But Bath failed to make the extra man count, with Walker setting up a thrilling finish when he slotted home another penalty with less than four minutes left.

Despite a concerted effort, Bath failed to get into a scoring position after that and the game ended all square.

Worcester Warriors: Latham, Garvey (Gear 55), Rasmussen, Tuitupou, Benjamin, Walker, Powell (Arr 64); C Black (A Black 70),  Lutui (Fortey 70), Taumoepeau (Sourgens 70), Rawlinson, Gillies, Wood, Sanderson (capt),  Horstmann.

Replacements not used: Kitchener, Abbott, MacRae.

Penalties: Walker 4.

Yellow card: Tuitupou (66).

Bath Rugby: Abendanon, Carraro, Hape, Williams (Stephenson 56), Cuthbert, Davis, Claassens (capt); Flatman (Catt 70), Dixon (Mears 60), Jarvis, Short, Grewcock, Skirving, Salvi, Watson.

Replacements not used: Lilley, Hobson, Browne, Bemand, Roberts.

Penalties: Davis 4.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU).

Attendance: 10,194.