article_snippet.sent: At half-time, everything pointed to another humiliating English defeat in Dublin.
article_snippet.sent: Outmuscled at the breakdown, bullied in the scrum and laboured in the line-out, Bath were in danger of going down every bit as tamely as England had a month ago.
article_snippet.sent: By the end, remarkably, the three-time champions Leinster were hanging on for dear life as wave after wave of Bath attack threatened to deliver one of the great European comebacks.
article_snippet.sent: the three-time champions Leinster were hanging on for dear life as wave after wave of Bath attack fell short, but there was pride to be taken in this.
article_snippet.sent: Driven on by the three-time champions Leinster were hanging on for dear life as wave after wave of Bath attack pocket general Ford, Bath somehow came within a whisker of finding a way into the last four.
article_snippet.sent: Had it not been for a penalty conceded by replacement Matt Garvey with seconds on the clock, the three-time champions Leinster were hanging on for dear life as wave after wave of Bath attack may well have won.
article_snippet.sent: But despite Stuart Hooper 21st-minute moment of brilliance, it looked for all the world as if Leinster would repeat Ireland’s Six Nations strangulation of England as Bath’s discipline failed under the pressure of Leinster’s superior set-piece and domination at the breakdown.
article_snippet.sent: But Bath showed their mettle with a wonderful second-half revival.
article_snippet.sent: Despite their disappointment at failing to progress, Bath should take enormous confidence in knowing that with more precision their could, should even, have won this game.
article_snippet.sent: Suddenly, Bath believed.
article_snippet.sent: Bath's players stand dejected on the Aviva Stadium pitch at the final whistle following Bath's players 18-15 defeat .