BATH'S unheralded pack stepped out of the shadows of their star-studded back line for the second home game in succession to ensure Gloucester's Rec misery continued for another season.

Three Matt Perry penalties and an Iain Balshaw drop goal secured the nervy 12-9 Premiership triumph that kept their fierce West Country rivals' winless league record at the ground intact.

But that didn't begin to tell the story of a bruising battle up front, as the home eight staged a gutsy second-half effort that drove the Cherry & Whites to distraction in a re-run of the gritty victory over Newcastle Falcons two weeks earlier.

Flanker Gavin Thomas carried off the man-of-the-match honours, but you could have picked any one of a back five that, despite suffering an uncomfortable afternoon in the scrummage, excelled in all other areas to carve out another precious Premiership victory.

Contrast that with their opponents, handicapped by a simply dreadful display of throwing in at the lineout by Chris Fortey, who missed his targets with embarrassing frequency in the opening 40 minutes.

The unhappy hooker's miserable afternoon was completed after the interval as his frailties were pounced upon with ease by leaping locks Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock, ensuring the visitors spent the majority of the second period frantically defending their own line.

Both defences were top drawer throughout a dour struggle, leaving referee Steve Lander's whistle to decide the destiny of the points.

Gloucester came off worse and were consequently starved of field position, the torpedo-like left boot of French outside-half Ludovic Mercier keeping them in touch.

Desperate to make amends for last week's Wasps' debacle, Bath flew forward from the kick-off and were ahead after just four minutes as a quick penalty saw Gloucester come in from the side to kill possession, Perry punishing them from 20 metres.

But the Cherry & Whites fought back, full-back Robert Todd charging down a clearance from Tom Voyce only to see the ball go dead.

Mercier levelled the scores on 10 minutes as skipper Phil Vickery charged off the back of a free-kick and the ball came back for the No 10 to land a monstous drop-goal from near halfway.

Voyce's surge off a half-break from Mike Catt five minutes later put Bath back in credit, Perry kicking his second goal after the defence was called offside by an eagle-eyed Lander.

Still the war of attrition continued up front as both teams battered away to no avail. It was the visitors who almost unlocked the stalemate as first Jake Boer and then Henry Paul who squirmed through the tightest of gaps made deep inroads into the Bath defence.

But Gareth Cooper's surging burst of the back of a scrum cut open Gloucester and both Catt and David Barnes were held up short before Balshaw stooped to collect a poor pass and readjusted brilliantly to slot over a close-range drop goal.

Bath could have moved well clear in first-half injury time, but Mike Tindall's desperate lunge for the line was halted by a stunning tackle from Paul and the gap stayed at six.

A second drop goal from Frenchman Mercier reduced arrears seven minutes after the break, although he ignored a possible overlap to his right to land the three-pointer.

But that was one of Gloucester's few forays into opposition territory as Bath cranked up the pressure, without ever being able to find the killer opening.

Tindall was wildly off target with another drop goal attempt, then Mark Gabey passed to an opponent instead of Voyce with an overlap gaping.

Desperately, Bath sought the points to kill off the contest. They came gift-wrapped from Lander, who harshly penalised flanker Andrew Hazell for a deliberate knock-on 30 metres out, allowing Perry to slot over his third penalty with 13 minutes to go.

It proved a vital cushion as Gloucester roared back, Mercier stroking over another huge penalty from all of 50 metres.

Lander kept the nerves jangling by adding on six minutes of added time, but despite a break from substitute Terry Fanolua and a hair-raising dash up the touchline from Diego Albanese, Bath held out to earn a vital victory.

Bath: Perry, Balshaw, Maggs, Tindall, Voyce, Catt (capt), Cooper, Barnes, Regan (Long 64), Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock, G Thomas, Scaysbrook, Gabey (Beattie 64). Subs not used: Williams, Hopcroft, Barkley, Danielli, El Abd.

Gloucester: Todd, OLeary, Ewens (Fanolua 73), Paul, Albanese, Mercier, Gomarsall (Yachvili 62), Collazo (Woodman 48), Fortey, Vickery (capt), Fidler (Pearce 36), Cornwell, Boer, Hazell, Paramore (Eustace 51). Subs: Simpson-Daniel, Pucciariello.

Referee: Steve Lander (RFU)

Attendance: 8,200