MATCH REPORT: Bath Rugby 45, Bristol Rugby 8

While it was seasoned Rec heroes who notched up the points for Bath Rugby against their soon-to-be demoted West Country rivals, it was the new kids on the block who stole the show.

Joe Maddock scored two tries in his 100th game for Bath and Alex Crockett also bagged a brace.

But it was Shontayne Hape and young frontrower Mark Lilley who, in their very different ways, stood out in the 45-8 demolition of Bristol.

Former New Zealand rugby league star Hape sparkled at inside centre, showing pace and strength, while City of Bath College student Lilley displayed pluck and composure by picking out his man in the lineout despite dislocating his finger after coming on as a substitute.

Saturday was the day that Hape, signed from the Bradford Bulls in the summer, convinced The Rec that he is the real deal in union. The rapturous applause he received when substituted with a quarter of the game to go said it all.

Hape, who has been in and out of the Bath team since changing codes, has hinted at his potential in previous games with the odd half break and solid tackling.

But at the weekend he gave an altogether more assured, all-round performance.

Three weeks ago, in Bath's win against Worcester at Sixways, Hape gave an accomplished display at outside centre but judging by his performance against Bristol, it will be at inside that he finds his natural home.

With captain Alex Crockett outside him and the at-times ingenious Butch James inside him, Bath prospered.

The team's midfield has been unsettled so far this season, with Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Shaun Berne and Tom Cheeseman also making numerous starts in the centres.

But the James-Hape-Crockett axis shows every chance of allowing Steve Meehan to find a more settled formula. Hape danced out of tackles and surged through half-gaps, and Bath's try count could have been greater had there been more support on his shoulder.

Speaking to the Chronicle immediately after Bath's win, the 28-year-old said he was seeking to get more back-to-back performances under his belt.

"It's just a momentum thing," he said. "I'm still learning from the guys and playing off Butch. It's coming – I'm enjoying the game."

The scoreline may suggest that this was one-way traffic throughout but Bristol were still very much in the hunt at half-time and had even led at one stage following a try by Bath bugbear Lee Robinson.

But it was a demolition job by the home team in the second half as Bath chalked up 28 unanswered points. Lacklustre defence and sin-binnings did not help Bristol's cause but it was Bath's superior muscle in the pack and try-hungry backs that ultimately condemned the visitors to another Guinness Premiership defeat.

Bath were also assisted by some gorgeous touches from James, who bamboozled the Bristol defence on more than one occasion with a passing masterclass.

With Bristol without danger man David Lemi on the wing, Bath's game plan was clear from the outset – play wide, play fast and aim to outstrip the Bristol backline.

And it took just five minutes for Bath to cross the Bristol line, Maddock cutting through from 30m after selling a dummy to his opposite number, Tom Arscott, and left wing Nathan Brew. James added the extras with a simple conversion.

But any thoughts that this was going to be one-way traffic were quickly dispelled, with former Walcot wing Robinson – who has developed a habit of scoring against Bath – beating the host's back three in a chase to get on the end of a Sean Perry box-kick.

Ed Barnes kicked wide from the tight conversion angle but the side destined for relegation had shown they meant business.

James – who, by his standards, had a sluggish start before putting in some sublime touches – could have extended Bath's lead in the 19th minute but was wide and short from the penalty tee following a Bristol offence at the scrum.

Bath were dominating territory and possession, and a second try looked to be on in the 23rd minute when scrum-half Scott Bemand made a break from the foot of a ruck, but James knocked on the off-load.

Despite their dearth of territory, Bristol edged into the lead on 25 minutes courtesy of a Barnes penalty stemming from a period of intense pressure from the visitors, which saw them surge to within inches of the home side's line. Bath were lucky to have leaked three rather than seven points.

But with almost half-an-hour gone, Bath were back in front thanks to James's boot. The South African was given the chance to regain the lead for the hosts following a superb break by Hape.

Maddock bagged his second of the half in the 35th minute after Bath worked an overlap. Right wing Andrew Higgins was brought down inches shy of the line but Maddock sneaked over on the blindside from the resulting ruck, a hair's breadth inside the touchline. James made the tight conversion kick, giving Bath a 17-8 half-time lead.

Bath kept up the pressure after the break and – following a build-up that involved 1 to 15 – a deft grubber by James on 46 minutes enabled captain Crockett to touchdown after beating Arscott to the chase. James was on target with another superb conversion strike.

Bristol's replacement scrum-half, Haydn Thomas, was sin-binned in the 53rd minute after going into the ruck from the side – just three minutes after coming on the pitch – and, following another strong run by Hape, Bath set up camp inside the Bristol 22.

Hungry for the bonus try, the home side's pack began to turn the screws and, after three penalty scrums, referee David Rose had no option but to award the penalty try. James got the extras, giving Bath a 31-8 lead.

Six minutes later, Bath got their fifth and the game was over, Daniel Browne breezing over after selling a dummy to a now complacent-looking Bristol backline. James made it 38-8.

The floodgates were now well and truly open and when substitute Nick Abendanon made a scything run through the Bristol backs from deep, it seemed inevitable that a try would result. And it did, with Abendanon finding Crockett in support.

Another simple conversion ensued from James, giving Bath a 37-point winning margin – their biggest of the season so far.

But although the victory was easy and the gulf between the sides considerable, this was a far from perfect performance by Bath. There were too many handling errors – with lock Peter Short the principal culprit – and some wayward passing in the second half.

Players who made breaks became isolated too often, ensuring that numerous attacks fizzled out prematurely.

Such weaknesses will need to be ironed out if Bath are to assure themselves of a berth in the play-offs.