NIGEL Melville dismissed the loss of Gloucester's 100 per cent Zurich Premiership record as "irrelevant'' but less easy to stomach will be how his table-toppers allowed Bath to snatch a 21-21 draw in a Recreation Ground thriller.

Leading 21-12 with a quarter of an hour left, the Cherry & Whites were cruising to their first win at the home of their fierce rivals in 15 years of league rugby.

But what Michael Foley's Bath lack in try-scoring invention they make up for in guts and they bravely dragged themselves back to eke out their second successive home draw, courtesy of their most potent attacking weapon the faultless left boot of full-back Olly Barkley.

Six successful penalties out of six from the 20-year-old including the leveller three minutes into added time plus Chris Malone's drop-goal allowed Bath to leave the field feeling like the victors.

But Gloucester only had their own poor discipline, errant kicking and woeful decision-making to blame.

Melville, who saw his side outscore Bath two tries to nil, admitted: "Losing the 100 per cent record is irrelevant. But we are looking at performance, and we made too many basic errors.

"We are trying to move our performance forward, and that was disappointing because of those mistakes.

"I am disappointed with the performance because we didn't play well, although we have still come away from here with two points.''

Foley meanwhile, reflected on another spirited second-half fightback, led in the main by outstanding young centre Alex Crockett and Barkley's superb kicking.

The Australian expects to welcome back midfield men Kevin Maggs and Mike Catt as well as lock Steve Borthwick for Saturday's trip to Leicester.

But he admitted: "I would find it very hard, based on that performance, to leave Alex Crockett out.''

"Sometimes, you have to reward players for good performances and it's something we'll have to talk about this week.''

He added: "No one is ever really satisfied with a draw, although I was very happy with the commitment of the players.''

Malone's well-executed drop put Bath in front before two Ludovic Mercier penalties nudged Gloucester in front.

Otherwise though, it was an errant day for the Frenchman, who missed two other shots and the conversion of flanker James Forrester's excellent 17th-minute try, which moved Gloucester 11-6 in front.

Bath's tackling was at fault as scrum-half Andy Gomarsall wriggled through on the touchline and offloaded to Forrester, who galloped over.

Back came the hosts though, and Barkley landed penalties either side of the half-hour to leave them trailing 11-9 at the break.

Gloucester upped the pressure after the interval and the decisive moment seemed to have arrived on 64 minutes after Barkley and ex-Bath man Henry Paul had traded penalties.

Gomarsall sniped off a short-range scrum and Bath ran out of defenders as Paul crossed out wide, then landed a magnificent conversion.

But the home side summoned up the will to fight back and, as Gloucester visibly wilted, the errors came.

Barkley booted two more kicks before, in injury-time, prop Rodrigo Roncero killed possession off a Crockett drive and the youngster slotted in the equaliser.

TEAMS: Bath: Barkley, Danielli, Crockett, Tindall, Voyce, Malone, Cooper, Emms (Barnes 47), Humphreys (Mears 56), Galasso (Mallett 66), Beattie (Lloyd 71), Grewcock (capt), G Thomas (Scaysbrook 64), Lyle, N Thomas. Subs not used: Blake, Thirlby.

Gloucester: Paul, Garvey, Fanolua, Todd (Delport 54), Simpson-Daniel, Mercier, Gomarsall, Roncero, Fortey (Azam 56), Vickery (capt), Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, Forrester, Paramore. Subs not used: Stuart-Smith, Beim, Deacon, Buxton, Pearce.

Referee: Steve Leyshon (RFU)

Attendance: 8,200