Leicester ready to put up a fight in battle at Bath

Bath v Leicester
BT Sport 1, 3pm
Dragons v Ospreys
Premier Sports 1 & S4C, 3pm

Bath and Leicester used to be the dominant duo in English top-flight rugby but they have been going through similar struggles this term.

Locked on 23 points with four wins each from ten, both have had poor runs and questions asked of their direction but both picked up encouraging wins at the weekend.

Leicester overcame Harlequins at home to end a run of three straight league losses including a humiliating defeat at Bristol, while Bath were victorious at Wasps.

It's too early to say either team have turned a corner, and this could be a scrappy affair so backing Leicester with a six-point start looks the best wager.

Bath have lost only once at home in the league - to highflying Exeter - but they've been held to two draws and edged Northampton by just two points. They have also suffered narrow home defeats to Toulouse and Leinster in the Champions Cup.

Leicester's only 'away' win of the season came against Northampton at Twickenham, and they have not come close to covering the handicap in three of their four road defeats.

But there was a feeling after the 41-10 hammering at Bristol, where they played for nearly an hour with 14 men, that the Tigers have drawn a line, and they were competitive for spells in their European double-header against French giants Racing, despite suffering two losses.

Also in the Premiership, Bristol are three-point favourites in the battle at the bottom against Newcastle, while in the Pro14 Ospreys give up eight points at Dragons.

Recommendation
Leicester +6
2pts 10-11 general

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