Banahan Impresses Ashton and Helps Add Weight to Belief That the Glory Days Can Return to Bath

There is a real buzz at The Rec. This emphatic win pushed the club to the top of the Premiership for the first time in more than three years, and means they have not been beaten at home in the league in almost 14 months. It is not just the statistics that are causing a surge of optimism, though, but the style of play, which is every bit as aggressive and dashing as the stuff the club used to produce in its early 90s heyday.

The star on Saturday was the wing Matt Banahan. Just 20 years old, Banahan, all of 6ft 7in tall and some 16½st, scored a hat-trick. While he has bulk and ball-skills, some observers have questioned whether he would have the pace to thrive for England, though Bath's head coach Steve Meehan insisted that he was the club's quickest player over 10, 20 and 30 meters in pre-season testing. The sheer power of the man marks him out as offering something unique, and it is easy to imagine him as a successful impact-sub coming off the England bench in the final quarter.

Brian Ashton was ensconced in a hospitality box at one end of the ground, and while the England coach's attention must have been drawn to the blockbusting Banahan, there was also much to admire about the play of Olly Barkley and Nick Abendanon. "For a winger to be that involved in the game," said Meehan, "then guys inside him must have been doing something right."

Indeed they were. Barkley produced a flawless goal-kicking display, converting all seven attempts, but it was his tactical nous, running in broken play and distribution that caught the eye. It was his perfect grubber, slicing through Leeds' defense, which set up Abendanon's try in the final minute. Meehan said: "Since Barkley came back from the World Cup, his integration with the other players and his communication skills have improved. He has a clearer understanding of this team and where we're going as a side." There is a sense that Barkley is a playmaker entering his prime.

By the time Abendanon crossed the line Leeds were already well out of the game. In fact, considering that Bath went 7-0 up after 38 seconds, Leeds were never really in it at all. Their defense was spirited enough - they held Bath to 13-3 at half-time - but they lacked accuracy in their execution, and every mistake, fumble or turnover was ruthlessly capitalized on.

With Danny Grewcock back from injury and linking up superbly with Steve Borthwick and Lee Mears, this is a Bath team in their pomp, producing a style of play that will surely keep them in the reckoning for the title right up to the end of the season.

The task of surviving in the Premier ship looks beyond Leeds, however. Their director of rugby, Stuart Lancaster, could only acclaim Bath's rich vein of form. Lancaster said: "They are as good a side as we have played all season."

Bath Abendanon; Maddock (Higgins, 79), Crockett (Berne, 62), Barkley, Banahan; James, Claassens (Walshe, 69); Barnes (Ion, 62), Mears (Dixon, 62), Stevens, Borthwick, Grewcock (Purdy, 62), Beattie (Faamatuainu, 62) Lipman, Browne.

Tries Banahan 3, Claassens, Abendanon. Cons Barkley 5. Pens Barkley 2.

Leeds Hinton (Goodridge, 73); Satala, Vickerman, Blackett (Hepworth, 66), Biggs; Di Bernardo, Bedford (Brooks, 61); MacDonald (McGee, 73), Ma'asi (Nilsen 66), McGee (Cusack, 61), Hooper, Bouza, Dunbar (Paul, 73), Clark (Balding, h-t), Oakley.

Try Biggs. Con Di Bernardo. Pen Di Bernardo.

Referee D Richards (Berkshire). Attendance 10,600.