FIVE precision-guided strokes from Olly Barkley's left foot sent Bath heading into 2002 in good heart as old rivals Bristol were booted into submission 15-9 at an icy Recreation Ground.

The 20-year-old England international the subject of an intense pre-match selection debate among Bath's coaching staff pondering the absence of regular kicking talent of Matt Perry left them in no doubt about the merits of their decision as his personal haul sent the Shoguns packing.

It was just as well for the home side for whom the search for a try a hunt now spanning four and a half hours goes on.

In an echo of their derby victory over Gloucester three weeks ago, Bath ground out another vital win in their quest to move out of the Zurich Premiership danger zone, without ever threatening to trouble their visitors' line.

With Perry absent, Iain Balshaw switched to full-back with Rob Thirlby coming onto the wing and Kevin Maggs being the unlucky man to miss out.

But once again, despite all that talent at their disposal, it was their opponents' indiscipline that handed them victory.

The penalty count may have been pretty much even, but it was the position on the field where they were conceded that was vital.

Three times in the opening 17 minutes, Bristol conceded sloppy penalties in exactly the same position 25 metres out and to the left of their posts to gift Bath a nine-point advantage.

That should have given the home side a platform from which to go on and secure a comfortable triumph.

But Balshaw's knock-on from a shrewd Mike Catt up-and-under apart, a touchdown eluded them and Bristol edged themselves back into contention as Felipe Contepomi slotted over a three-pointer midway through the half after Bath had pulled down a ruck.

Barkley sent another long-range penalty wide before Garath Archer, Bristol's hero when the two sides met at the Memorial Stadium last month, turned villain and was sent to the sin-bin for deliberately killing possession.

The loss seemed to affect Bath more however and five minutes from the interval they had an extraordinary escape as the Shoguns threatened a try.

Contepomi's delightful punt to the corner set up the position and, requiring a safe throw, Bath hooker Andy Long horribly missed Steve Borthwick and Adam Vander gathered to dive over.

Bristol's joy was shortlived though, as referee Dave Pearson adjudged that Vander had joined the lineout late and was therefore offside.

Bristol were still in touch though and as the second half got underway they dominated to start the home nerves jangling.

Contepomi brought them to within three after a break featuring him and his Argentinian compatriot Agustin Pichot had ended with Bath straying offside.

The Puma then missed a simple drop-goal from in front of the posts, but levelled the scores on the hour after being the victim of a high tackle. In between, Archer was extremely fortunate to escape expulsion after he and David Barnes had traded blows following yet another botched scrummage.

With Bath wobbling, it needed a further intervention from referee Pearson to provide a decisive moment.

The official penalised Contepomi in midfield for a supposed high tackle on Mike Tindall although the challenge appeared more around the upper arms and Barkley kicked from near halfway to regain the lead.

Eleven minutes from the end, Barkley repeated the trick from similar range to move Bath clear and Bristol's patience began to wear thin. John Mallett and Archer again had a dust-up before one side of the ground were treated to a brawl between Danny Grewcock and his England colleague Julian White as the game continued elsewhere.

Pearson sent those two to the sin-bin, but the Shoguns poured forward in search of the vital try.

A hair-raising dash up the touch line from Contepomi and sub Luke Nabaro almost brought rewards, but Thirlby dashed back to make the tackle and Bath held on.

Bath: Balshaw, Thirlby, Barkley, Tindall, Voyce, Catt (capt), Williams, Barnes, Long, Mallett (Emms 68), Borthwick, Grewcock, G Thomas, Gabey, N Thomas. Subs not used: Chrystie, Mears, Maggs, Danielli, Scaysbrook, Hudson.

Bristol Shoguns: Carrington, Rees (Drahm 80), Higgins (Nabaro 75), Little (capt), Christophers, Contemponi, Pichot, Johnstone, McCarthy, White, Archer, Brown, Short (Crompton 79), Vander, Sturnham. Subs not used: Nelson, Brownrigg, Morgan, Blake.

Referee: Dave Pearson (Northumberland)

Attendance: 8,200