BATH head coach Mike Ford was satisfied with a win that cemented his side's place among the top four in the Premiership as they edged west country rivals Gloucester 15-13 at the Rec last night

Freddie Burns, released by England to play against his home town club, did his level best to compensate for an unequal contest up front by scoring all his side's points, including a charge-down try.

"I thought we dominated the game," said Ford, whose son George kicked all Bath's points to earn the victory.

"We put ourselves under pressure, though, missed a few goal kicks, conceded a charge-down try. But apart from that, I thought we were dominant in most facets.

"We are second now and we're pleased where we are. Conditions didn't help. But we believe we've only scratched the surface with this team.

"Our front five were really good, really dominant. Not just the front five - the whole eight.

"There were some pleasing things. I'm not disappointed about winning derby games!"

He added: "We kicked our goals but Freddie took his try well and we got a bit jittery towards the end. There were plenty of positives though."

Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies lamented his side's lack of discipline.

Davies was not content with the losing bonus point from the 15-13 scoreline, despite losing out on possession and territory to their rivals on a rain-sodden pitch.

A penalty count of 19-6 against his side in this Aviva Premiership contest was particularly hurtful.

"Overall, it was a poor game of rugby," said Davies. "I was disappointed with elements of our performance but the biggest disappointment for me was our discipline.

"If we had remained disciplined we could have sneaked something out of that game.

"There were periods of the second half where the momentum had changed, we had good field position, we could have have put pressure on Bath, but because we were undisciplined we didn't. In the context of this game it was a huge issue for us."

Burns almost single-handedly kept his side in the game, playing behind a well beaten pack, as Davies acknowledged.

"He was great. He managed the game well, in the first half and in the second half.

"He managed field position very well - the trouble was that we let them off the hook when we got there.

"And you are not going to control games if you haven't got the platform.

"We battled and battled - we do that - but we've got to have more control over games.

"The set-piece has to function a lot better than it is at the moment and the discipline has got to be a lot, lot better than it is now.

"It was a game where we were probably second best in most facets but one we should have won if our discipline been good enough.

"We know that if we keep the penalty count to 10 or below, we win rugby games."

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